Lookinlikeaqueen should get nice setup in first start for new barn

Over the past year, trainer Robert Dibona has a 24 percent strike rate and $2.02 ROI with claimed horses running back the first time. He has a good chance of adding to his impressive numbers with Lookinlikeaqueen, who figures to be among the favorites in a $25,000 starter race at Gulfstream Park on Sunday.

The one-mile turf race drew nine horses and goes as race 10 on an 11-race card that begins at 12:50 p.m. Eastern.

Acting on behalf of Michael Moriarty, Dibona claimed Lookinlikeaqueen out of a first-level allowance race with a $20,000 claiming option on April 16. With Jose Bravo aboard, the 5-year-old daughter of Lookin At Lucky settled early before finishing with a rush to win going away in the 7 1/2-furlong dash on turf restricted to Florida-breds for trainer Herman Wilensky.

It was Lookinlikeaqueen’s first victory since she won a first-level allowance race with a $16,000 claiming option going a mile on turf last year on March 13.

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Lookinlikeaqueen went into her latest race off a runner-up finish in a $16,000 starter on March 24 and is capable of stringing solid races together as evidenced by back-to-back wins in 2019.

With plenty of potential speed in the field, the race should set up nicely for her.

She will break from post 5 with Samy Camacho riding.

Kitten’s Romance looks like a serious threat with Paco Lopez riding for trainer Mark Hennig.

A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Kitten’s Joy, Kitten’s Romance is coming off consecutive runner-up finishes in $25,000 starter races. With Junior Alvarado aboard, she rallied to finish second to Charge Account going a mile and a sixteenth on turf rated good March 11. Lopez was aboard for her neck loss to Little Bit Good in a 7 1/2-furlong race on firm turf April 10.

Kitten’s Romance sat third during the early stages of her latest race, but prior to her last two starts she came from the out of the clouds to win a $20,000 claimer for nonwinners of two going a mile on turf on Jan. 20.

She will break from the rail and it will be interesting to see if Lopez puts her into a stalking position or lets her settle early.

R Calli Kim, trained by Georgina Baxter, could be dangerous while making just her second start this year. She was favored in the same race Kitten’s Romance exits but had some early trouble before finishing fourth with Edgard Zayas riding.

R Calli Kim, a 4-year-old daughter of Revolutionary, won her first two stars as a 3-year-old and finished fourth in the $100,000 Martha Washington in her only other start on Aug. 8.

With just four starts, she could have plenty of upside and it is encouraging to see Zayas keep the faith.

R Calli Kim will break from post 7.

Speed will be provided by, among others, Josefa, second to Lookinlikeaqueen on April 16, and Platinumcents, a wire-to-wire winner of her last two starts, the latest coming in a $16,000 claimer for nonwinners of two on April 14.