Maydell brings consistent form into turf-route feature
Maydell was the 6-5 favorite when finishing second in her last start, perpetuating her consistency while also making her the obvious one to beat Thursday when the 5-year-old mare re-ups for the same first-level allowance condition that governs the seventh-race feature at Gulfstream Park.
Trained by Peter Walder, Maydell will have Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado aboard when breaking from post 2 in a field of 11 in the lone allowance of a nine-race card. The $44,000 race for fillies and mares is scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the turf and includes a $25,000 claiming option in the race description.
In eight starts since October, Maydell has racked up three wins, four seconds, and one third while earning Beyer Speed Figures that should make her extremely competitive in this spot. Walder, who has won at a 25 percent rate in his 21-year training career, entered this week winless with his first nine starters at a new meet that began July 1, but that drought doesn’t figure to last much longer.
Top threats to Maydell appear to be Dream Come True, Holiday Stroll, Tis Duet, and Tatica for Ever.
Gulfstream has tweaked first post again, with the new start time being 1:15 p.m. Eastern, or 15 minutes later than what had been in effect the last few months. The nominal feature is set for 4:33.
The jackpot for the 20-cent Rainbow 6 wager (races 4-9) was slow to rebuild over the weekend after being emptied July 16 to the tune of $164,483.
KEY CONTENDERS
Maydell (Last 3 Beyers: 79-80-78)
◗ Her remarkable string of in-the-money finishes figures to continue, assuming a decent trip while stalking what shapes up as an honest pace; she shows two recent workouts in staying fit since having raced more than six weeks ago.
Dream Come True (Last 3 Beyers: 75-76-62)
◗ This two-back winner was an okay fifth in the same June 7 race in which Maydell was the runner-up; her trainer, Ralph Nicks, pulled off a notable feat here last Saturday by winning a pair of 2-year-old maiden races.
Holiday Stroll (Last 3 Beyers: 47-72-68)
◗ Claimed three starts back by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, this filly has the credentials to figure squarely into this mix, especially if you forgive her last start on a sloppy track; she must overcome the difficult outside draw.
Tis Duet (Last 3 Beyers: 29-74-61)
◗ Like Holiday Stroll, she gets an obvious excuse for her last start when the race was transferred off the grass; she draws favorably on the rail for underrated conditioner Michelle Nihei.