Oh Kandrita back on dirt in Wednesday feature

Oh Kandrita looks as good as any in a $35,000 starter-allowance/optional-claiming race for 2-year-old fillies that will serve as the feature at Gulfstream Park West on Wednesday. The six-furlong dash drew eight horses and appears to be wide open.

Trained by Kathleen O’Connell, Oh Kandrita was a front-running winner when she debuted on the Gulfstream Park main track Aug. 11. She most recently finished second in a $35,000 starter/optional-claiming race on the Gulfstream turf. The winner of that race, Queen Del Ville, won her next two races and hasn’t lost in four starts on grass. She did finish third when she debuted on dirt.

Oh Kandrita won’t mind the move back to dirt with Tyler Gaffalione retaining the mount. She was in front at the first call in both of her races, and there is plenty of potential speed in the field. It will be interesting to see if Gaffalione guns her to the lead or tries to find out if she can stalk after she breaks from post 2.

India Mantuana will appreciate the class relief after running in $75,000 optional-claiming races in her last two starts. Trained by Antonio Sano, she came from a stalking position to finish second behind Cassidy Stakes runner-up Lirica on Aug. 18, then faded after setting the early pace when she came back from a layoff Oct. 19.

KEY CONTENDERS

Oh Kandrita, by Kantharos
Last 2 Beyers: 53-59

◗ The 59 Beyer Speed Figure she earned in her debut is the highest in this field, and she ran another good race when she tried turf for the first time.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years, O’Connell has a 20 percent strike rate with 2-year-olds moving from turf to dirt.

India Mantuana, by Wilburn
Last 3 Beyers: 31-52-23

◗ She may have needed her last race, and if she can stalk like she did two back, she could make a big impact in a race loaded with speed.

Little United, by High Cotton
Last 2 Beyers: 52-51

◗ She showed an affinity for this surface when she romped in a $25,000 maiden-claiming race in her second start for trainer Carlo Vaccerezza. She was haltered out of the race by trainer Christos Gatis, who over the past five years has a 14 percent strike rate with horses making their first start after being claimed.

R Incredible Life
Last 2 Beyers: 24-NA

◗ Another with speed, the Ralph Ziadie trainee romped in her debut in a $50,000 maiden claimer at Gulfstream, then got a rough start when she was sent off as the favorite in the $200,000 Florida Sire Desert Vixen.