Miss Margaret will try to regain form
It’s a mere first-level allowance race, but the Thursday feature at Gulfstream Park in south Florida drew a handful of fillies with stakes experience.
The lone allowance on a nine-race card attracted the likes of Miss Margaret, Afleet Mary, and Susie Bee, all of whom have dipped their toes into stakes waters. It’s a $44,000 turf mile which got a field of nine 3-year-old fillies and carries a $75,000 claiming option.
Miss Margaret, trained by Milt Wolfson, and Susie Bee, trained by Mike Maker, drew on opposite ends of the starting gate in posts 1 and 9, respectively. They figure to vie for favoritism with Little Bit Lovely (post 8), a sharp last-out winner for trainer Ralph Nicks.
The nominal feature is carded as race 7 as part of a Rainbow 6 sequence (races 4-9) offering a carryover of $65,979. Other Thursday carryovers: the pick five (races 5-9), $10,011, and the Super High Five (race 9), $46,371.
The ninth race, a conditioned $8,000 claimer, looks particularly challenging. Twelve were entered, although the field will be limited to 10 starters if it stays on the grass.
First post daily at Gulfstream is 1:15 p.m. Eastern.
KEY CONTENDERS
Miss Margaret (Last 3 Beyers: 39-76-75)
◗ Her most recent start in the May 29 Amelia Island is an obvious throwout, because this gray Florida-bred was remarkably consistent prior to that clunker.
◗ She comes well-drawn on the rail with Jesus Rios aboard.
Little Bit Lovely (Last 3 Beyers: 77-55-71)
◗ She probably didn’t beat all that much when romping as the 8-5 favorite in a restricted claimer at this same distance and surface last out, but she matches up Beyer-wise and style-wise against this group.
Susie Bee (Last 3 Beyers: 74-76-69)
◗ Owned by the Calumet Farm of Brad Kelley, this gray daughter of turf champion English Channel finished third here in May in her only start at this level.
Afleet Mary (Last 3 Beyers: 76-74-71)
◗ She has knocked heads a few times with Miss Margaret and Susie Bee, acquitting herself respectably.