Mybigitalianfriend should get plenty of support
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Like for many other trainers in South Florida for the winter, this is a big week for Jason Servis. The 61-year-old conditioner will send out his stable star World of Trouble in the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint on the Pegasus World Cup undercard Saturday, but first he’ll get warmed up with a trio of entries on an 11-race Thursday card.
Foremost among those Servis runners is Mybigitalianfriend, a last-out maiden winner who will be stoutly favored in the lone allowance of the day, race 10. First post Thursday is noon Eastern, with the 6 1/2-furlong feature going at 4:41.
Mybigitalianfriend is a 4-year-old Union Rags filly owned by the high-profile partnership of Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group, and Bethlehem Stables. After she started her career last summer with two maiden defeats in New York, the partnership turned her over to Servis, for whom she earned an eye-catching 91 Beyer Speed Figure when returning to action last month with an 11 1/2-length romp in an open maiden-special race at Gulfstream.
Off that sharp score, Mybigitalianfriend and apprentice rider Romero Maragh should take plenty of beating Thursday in a $44,000 first-level allowance restricted to Florida-breds. Foremost among the competition are Flora Fantasy, Threat, and Hello Juliet.
Aside from Mybigitalianfriend, who drew the outside post in a field of eight, the other Servis runners here Thursday are Dragon Moon (race 3) and Maximum Security (race 9), who also is likely to be heavily backed off a December maiden romp in his career debut.
KEY CONTENDERS
Mybigitalianfriend, by Union Rags
Last 3 Beyers: 91-50-61
◗ Off just a couple of official workouts at Servis’s winter base at the Palm Meadows training center, this filly took over with authority in her Dec. 16 comeback before widening down the lane.
Flora Fantasy, by Cowtown Cat
Last 3 Beyers: 58-66-67
◗ Trained by Efran Loza Jr., who won at a 29 percent clip (20 for 70) last year, this 5-year-old mare could loom a stretch threat turning back from a turf mile four weeks ago.
Threat, by Kantharos
Last 3 Beyers: 49-76-61
◗ One of two in here entered for an optional $12,500 tag (with Forty’s Sweetheart), this six-time winner was claimed from her last start by the meet’s leading trainer, Jorge Navarro.
Hello Juliet, by Adios Charlie
Last 3 Beyers: 57-70-54
◗ The leading earner in the field with $143,750, this consistent 5-year-old already has been second twice in as many starts at this same level at the championship meet.
