Moment of Delight draws less-than-ideal post in mile feature

Moment of Delight must overcome a wide post Wednesday, when she starts as the probable favorite in the featured ninth race at Gulfstream Park West. She will break from post 10 in the one-mile race for 2-year-old fillies. The first-level allowance carries an optional-claiming price of $75,000.

Moment of Delight enters Wednesday’s feature off back-to-back stakes placings in the Florida Sire Stakes series at Gulfstream Park. Her nine rivals include Ryabinka, who faced Grade 1 rivals last out in the Spinaway, and Sky Limit, a half-sister to three-time stakes winner Montana Native.

Juan Leyva has the mount on Moment of Delight for trainer Bill Kaplan.

“The main thing with her is that I like the two turns,” Kaplan said. “I’m happy with the mile. I’m not happy with the post. There’s pluses and minuses. She should have no trouble leaving the gate. There will be no one outside of her. But we risk being hung wide. Hopefully, she’ll break and be able to move over.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Moment of Delight (Last 3 Beyers: 67-63-64)

◗ She was second in the $358,000 My Dear Girl in her last start Oct. 4. Favored in the race, Moment of Delight finished 1 1/4 lengths behind the winner, Holywell. One start prior, she missed by a nose in the $259,500 Susan’s Girl, also won by Holywell.

“The pace was way too slow last time,” Kaplan said. “We couldn’t catch the front horse when she accelerated away.”

◗ Moment of Delight has shown talent in just three career starts. She won her debut by 4 1/2 lengths at Gulfstream on Aug. 16, then placed in the stakes. Moment of Delight is a daughter of A.P. Warrior.

“She’s a nice filly, a big filly who’s going to grow into a really beautiful mare,” Kaplan said. “She’s developing pretty quickly. She’s got everything going for her. A great mind. She’s got speed. She’s very easy to ride. I think she’ll do well.”

Sky Limit (Last Beyer: 48)

◗ She is making her two-turn debut after winning a maiden special weight sprint in her debut Sept. 20 at Gulfstream. Her half-sister Montana Native was a route stakes winner, among her victories the Remington Park Oaks.

Ryabinka (Last 3 Beyers: N/A-34-45)

◗ She was unplaced in the Spinaway, which has produced three next-out winners. The runner-up, By the Moon, returned to take the Frizette; the third-place finisher, Angela Renee, accounted for the Chandelier; and the sixth-place finisher, Lady Zuzu, took a maiden special weight race at Keeneland.