Mandy's Gold entered in allowance sprint

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Mandy's Gold, who shed her label as a one-dimensional sprinter when she won last year's Grade 1 Ruffian Handicap, may return to her sprinting roots Monday in a six-furlong allowance race at Gulfstream Park.

Mandy's Gold was entered as part of an entry with Bruanna by trainer Michael Gorham. Gorham said he wanted to review the past performances of the field before deciding which one to run.

"It's possible I could run Mandy's Gold if it looks like a soft spot and if it's better than working her again," said Gorham, who is also considering training Mandy's Gold up to the $100,000 Hurricane Bertie Stakes on March 16.

For the first 14 starts of her career, Mandy's Gold did not race past one mile. She recorded eight wins and three seconds, including five stakes wins. She was also disqualified from another stakes score.

Last fall, Mandy's Gold surprised many by rallying from off the pace to win the Ruffian at 1 1/16 miles. After finishing second in the nine-furlong Beldame, Mandy's Gold ran in the Breeders' Cup Distaff at Arlington. She had the misfortune of facing Azeri in the Distaff and Mandy's Gold never threatened while finishing fifth, 13 lengths behind the eventual Horse of the Year.

"I would have liked to have seen her a little closer to the pace in that race," Gorham said. "The way the day shook out, speed was pretty tough. If she didn't win, she could have had a shot to be third."

After the Breeders' Cup, Gorham ran Mandy's Gold in the Top Flight Handicap. She finished fourth behind Sightseek and, according to Gorham, bled.

Mandy's Gold got a freshening on a farm in Ocala before joining Gorham's Gulfstream stable. She has been training well over the surface, including a half-mile move in 47.60 seconds on Feb. 19. Mandy's Gold is 3 for 6 at Gulfstream.

If Gorham scratches Mandy's Gold, the race is wide open. Bruanna, who won 5 of 7 starts last year, has run poorly in two starts at this meet, but could handle this group.

Lilah chased a hot pace when third in a five-furlong classified allowance race on Feb. 8 and would be tough if she gets a contested pace on Monday. Ten-pound apprentice Shannon Uske is back aboard.

City Fair is winless in nine starts since taking the Correction at Aqueduct a year ago. Sea Span and Quiet Blue complete the field.

Later on the card, the Christophe Clement-trained Heritiere heads a third-level allowance race at about one mile on turf.

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