Nicks, Casse send out stakes workers

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A number of key contenders expected to contest next Saturday’s Summit of Speed Preview Day here turned in their final works Thursday and Friday. The eight stakes next Saturday, each valued at $75,000, correspond to the stakes on the Summit of Speed card on July 2.

Arguably the most impressive work over the past two mornings was turned in by Speechify, who zipped four furlongs over the main track at Gulfstream in 47.26 on Thursday. Trained by Ralph Nicks, Speechify turned in his final quarter in 23.10 without urging before galloping out five-eighths in 1:00.43. Speechify is among the nominees for the Bonita Stakes at five furlongs on the turf.

Speechify has not started since finishing a distant fourth in defense of his title in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector here on Dec. 19. Although Speechify is winless in two starts on grass, Nicks believes the son of Harlan’s Holiday is just as proficient, if not even better, on turf than dirt.

“He hasn’t been back with us long, but he worked awfully good, so we’ll see how he trains this week,” said Nicks when asked if Speechify would compete in the Bonita. “I always thought he might be better on turf than dirt, as much because of the shorter distances of those races than anything else. He was much the best the last time he ran on the grass. He got in so much trouble. He should have won that day, but he didn’t.”

On Friday, Nicks sent out the stakes-placed 3-year-old filly Enterprising Lady to turn in an eye catching work of her own, four furlongs in 47.08, going easily throughout. She galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.06.

A daughter of First Dude, Enterprising Lady was a troubled sixth in her lone start this season.

Nicks said he wants to run Enterprising Lady in an allowance race. If a suitable allowance doesn’t go, she could run in the 6 1/2-furlong Royal Palm on Saturday. Her main objective is the Florida Sire Series, Nicks said.

Mark Casse is expected to give Nicks his stiffest challenge for the training title this summer. He countered with a couple of strong workers of his own on Friday – the team of Dogwood Trail and Ballet Diva, who each went four furlongs in 47.03. The younger Ballet Diva finished a head in front under a strong hold outside her stablemate, but Dogwood Trail was best on the gallop-out, pulling up five furlongs nearly two lengths clear in 1:00.60.

Dogwood Trail won the Grade 3 Azalea on the 2015 Summit of Speed card, but finished off the board in all five of her starts this season. She’s among a small group of older fillies and mares nominated to Saturday’s $75,000 Sea Lily, which serves as a prep for the Grade 2 Princess Rooney four weeks later.

Ballet Diva could wind up facing Enterprising Lady in the Royal Palm, the prep for the Azalea on July 2. Ballet Diva has not started since leading throughout to capture the six-furlong Any Limit Stakes on March 19.

On Thursday, Casse worked local favorite Grande Shores four furlongs in company with stablemate Best Plan Yet in 48.82. Grande Shores, a 15-time winner who was racing against bottom-level claimers at Tampa Bay Downs several years ago, won the Sir Shackleton and placed twice in graded stakes during the Gulfstream Championship session. He is nominated to the six-furlong Parrot Key on Saturday, a prep for the Grade 2 Smile Sprint.