Many variables to weigh in complex co-features

It could pay to get creative when handicapping the co-featured optional-claiming races on Saturday’s 13-race card at Gulfstream Park, where a bevy of horses are returning from layoffs, dropping in class and/or changing surfaces. Mix in an unsettled weather forecast and you have the makings of potential chaos.

Race 12 is a multi-conditioned six-furlong dirt race for females where three of the nine entrants are returning from extended layoffs against the in-form J P’s Delight, whose 94 Beyer Speed Figure in a starter handicap at Tampa Bay Downs last month stands out.

Princess Causeway, one of two in here for trainer Ian Wilkes, looks to go 4 for 4 in allowance/optional-claiming company. Last Nov. 9 at Churchill Downs, Princess Causeway came from off the pace to win a third-level optional claimer at seven furlongs. The horse she beat, Whoa Nellie, has since come back to win an optional claimer at Turfway Park, a listed stakes at Oaklawn Park and, most recently, was beaten a neck in a graded race at Oaklawn.

Off that allowance win, Princess Causeway finished ninth in the Grade 2 Falls City Handicap going 1 1/8 miles at Churchill.

“Too far, too aggressive,” Wilkes said of his decision to run her in the Falls City.

Princess Causeway’s Nov. 9 win makes her eligible for this race by six days as one of the conditions of this race is for horses “which have not won a race since Nov. 15.” The potential for a wet track – and the likelihood of a hot pace with Liza Star, Jakarta, and J P’s Delight in the field – shouldn’t hinder this daughter of Giant’s Causeway, who owns a win in the slop.

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Chris Landeros rides Princess Causeway from the rail.

Wilkes also sends out Molto Bella, who is dropping back into optional-claiming company after two unsuccessful stakes tries. Wilkes said he gave jockey Daniel Centeno bad instructions when he ran her in the Minaret Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 15. Wilkes believes Molto Bella was too close to a hot pace. She finished sixth.

“I should have let her travel [on her own] and she would have traveled beautiful,” Wilkes said. “He rode her the way I wanted; sometimes you defeat yourself. She came out of it good, she’s done well and trained well since.”

Edgard Zayas rides Molto Bella from post 3.

Pacific Gale won a second-level optional claimer at Belmont Park in October 2018 and hasn’t won since. However, all eight of her races since then have been in stakes and she did finish second in a trio of graded tries, including behind Dream Pauline in the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie here.

Pacific Gale has not run since a last-place finish in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss Handicap at Saratoga last July 24.

“She had a physical issue that warranted some time off, no surgeries,” trainer John Kimmel said. “It’s one of those things where she’s getting a little older. If she went backwards we would have bred her. Her color is extremely good, her weight is good, and she’s sound.”

Luis Saez has the call on Pacific Gale from post 9.

Race 11 is a first-level allowance/optional $35,000 claimer scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Battle of Bleinheim, returning from a 97-day layoff for Mike Maker, won a $35,000 claiming race off a 134-day layoff here in December and came back to win again for $50,000 on Jan. 5. While the one to beat for sure, he has to deal with post 10 in a race that drew 15 but will be limited to 12 starters.

Supreme Aura and Conviction Trade are intriguing runners at potential prices. Supreme Aura goes first off the claim for owner Robert Bone. He had been training in New York with Rob Atras but was shipped to David Fawkes following his most recent work shortly after New York racing shut down. A gelding by Candy Ride, Supreme Aura has run only once on turf, in a tough sprint at Fair Grounds 13 months ago. If this race is switched to dirt, he would be a great fit.

Conviction Trade, a son of Exchange Rate, returns from a 12-week layoff for Jorge Abreu. He was good enough to win first out last September and his last race came against Largent, who has since come back to win a second-level optional claimer impressively.