Mo' Green ready to go in second start back

An early allowance on a 10-race card otherwise filled with claiming events will serve as the nominal highlight Thursday at Gulfstream Park in south Florida.

Six fillies and mares comprise the lineup for the third race, a $49,000, second-level allowance at a mile on the main track. Mo’ Green and My Awesome Mom, the second and third finishers in the restricted Margate Stakes on Dec. 26 at Gulfstream, figure as favorites.

Mo’ Green, a 4-year-old bay filly owned by the D J Stable LLC of Leonard and Lois Green, was making her first start in the Margate following a very troubled sixth-place finish in the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks in August.

“I really thought she was making a winning move in the Monmouth Oaks,” said trainer Joe Orseno. “But she got caught up in a chain reaction and lost all chance. I don’t know how she didn’t go over the rail. After that, I told the Greens I wanted to stop on her because she got jammed up a little and it was a pretty traumatic experience for her.”

Orseno said Mo’ Green ran “awesome” in the Margate.

“She galloped out great and has trained super since then,” he said. “I was begging for this two-other-than to go, and I’m really happy it did.”

Mo’ Green is not named for Moe Greene, the fictional mobster in “The Godfather” novel and movie, although Orseno said the Greens are well aware of the play on words.

“They named the filly about three weeks before the actor who played Moe Greene died,” said Orseno, referring to the July 2015 death of Alex Rocco. “I said if you’d waited until after he died, the name probably would’ve been snapped up.”

First post Thursday is 12:35 p.m. Eastern, with the feature going at 1:33. The 20-cent Rainbow 6 runs from races 5-10, with the last race set for 5:02.

KEY CONTENDERS

Mo’ Green, by Uncle Mo

Last 3 Beyers: 74-57-79

◗ Aside from her encouraging return in the seven-furlong Margate, there’s also her maiden romp over the local course last February to stamp her as the one to beat here.

My Awesome Mom, by Awesome Again

Last 3 Beyers: 64-73-59

◗ Trained by former jockey Dave Kassen for former amateur boxer Happy Alter, this chestnut filly came alive with back-to-back triumphs this fall leading into the Margate.

Meadow Rose, by Ghostzapper

Last 3 Beyers: 78-77-60

◗ Stronach Stables homebred gets top jockey Javier Castellano for her dirt debut after having raced on synthetic or turf at Woodbine in her previous six starts. She got through her first allowance condition in her last start Oct. 30.

Kasuga, by Temple City

Last 3 Beyers: 75-67-86

◗ Speedy 5-year-old mare has 21 starts but none on dirt. Trained by Danny Vella, she turns back in distance from a fading sixth going 1 1/8 miles on turf here Dec. 29.