Loyal Louie could be in right place at the right time

There is no shortage of speed in Sunday’s featured eighth race at Gulfstream Park, with at least five of the nine horses entered in the sprint eligible to contest the pace.

It’s a scenario that could benefit Loyal Louie, a stalker who breaks outside of all his rivals from post 9.

The field will race 5 1/2 furlongs on the Tapeta surface. The feature is a first-level allowance for 3-year-olds and up and has a claiming option of $25,000.

Loyal Louie could get an ideal setup behind a host of his rivals Sunday. Gepard, who breaks from the rail, is a confirmed front-runner who is adding blinkers. Cajun Brother is a fresh horse with speed who is making his first out since last November. Startonahighnote has led at every point of call in each of his last two starts, while Thatsafactjack has registered his last four wins in wire-to-wire fashion. Extendo pulled a wire job last out at Gulfstream.

Loyal Louie rallied for second against $16,000 starter-allowance foes last month at Gulfstream after breaking from the widest gate in the field of eight. He was making his first start since July and would seem to have reason to move forward in his second start back. Leonel Reyes has the mount for trainer J.K. Sweezey.

Highly Flammable, trained by Mark Casse, and Felix, trained by Ralph Nicks, are other candidates to bid from off the pace Sunday.

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Juveniles on Tapeta

Bucchera has done her best work to date on Tapeta, and will be returning to the synthetic surface for the seventh race, a $35,000 starter allowance for 2-year-old fillies. It will be run over 5 1/2 furlongs.

Bucchera has made two starts on Tapeta. She won her maiden on the surface in July at Gulfstream. Bucchera met winners on Tapeta in her next start Sept. 9, and was third at this same level. For the effort, Bucchera earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 60.

Both races came over 5 1/2 furlongs. She moved to seven-eighths on the main track last out and was seventh in the Susan’s Girl division of the Florida Sire Stakes won by the promising R Harper Rose. Bucchera could recapture her best form on the surface switch for trainer Mike Maker.

Heaven in Mind also is looking to recapture her best form when she runs Sunday for trainer Antonio Sano. She hooked a dominant winner last out in Great Venezuela, finishing sixth to that one in a first-level allowance Oct. 28 at Gulfstream. Prior to the start, Heaven in Mind won the Sept. 9 starter allowance over Bucchera.

Heaven in Mind is the only horse Sunday’s field with two career victories, which she has earned from four starts. She is a daughter of the Uncle Mo stallion Mr Louise.

Both Heaven in Mind and Bucchera could get stalking trips behind a few of their Sunday rivals.

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