Panzacola a wildcard in turf allowance

Contention runs deep in a second-level allowance race for fillies and mares that will serve as Wednesday’s feature at Gulfstream Park West. The one-mile turf race that drew 11 horses also has a $62,500 claiming option. My Cousin Martha will start if the race gets moved to the main track.

Post time for the first of eight races is 1:15 p.m. Eastern. Adding to the festivites is a $61,147 carryover in the Rainbow 6, which begins on race 3.

The featured fourth race is a wide-open event, and adding to a complex puzzle is the presence of the Charles Simon-trained Panzacola. The 5-year-old Irish-bred has not raced since she won a first-level allowance race with a $35,000 claiming option at Gulfstream Park in her only start in North America for trainer Graham Motion on Dec. 13.

“Graham called me about a month ago asking if I would take her,” Simon said. “Due to all the wet weather up north, he was having a hard time getting her into a race.”

Panzacola was scratched twice when races were taken off the turf at Laurel on Sept. 23 and Delaware Park on Sept. 19. She was training at the Fair Hill Training Center in Cecil County, Md. According to Simon, horses sometimes take a while to adjust to Florida’s warmer weather.

“I’ve had her for three weeks, and she seems to have acclimated well,” he said. “She’s had a couple of really nice works. She ran pretty spotty in Italy, but she seems like a nice horse and her race at Gulfstream was a good one.”

Panzacola will break from post 7 with leading jockey Edgard Zayas aboard.

KEY CONTENDERS

Unbridled Courage, by Leroidesanimaux
Last 3 Beyers: 67-88-81

◗ The 6-year-old Florida-bred trained by Aubrey Maragh did not fire in the $77,500 Monroe on Sept. 27, but she was coming off a layoff and her win in the $75,000 Treasure Chest in her previous race July 14 stamps her as the one to beat.

Panzacola, by Mastercraftsman
Last 3 Beyers: 80-NA-NA

◗ She improved substantially in her first start in North America, and was coming off a lengthy layoff so she can fire fresh.

Bitacora, by Dominus
Last 3 Beyers: 63-50-82

◗ Trained by Peter Walder, she is a beaten favorite in her two starts following a hiatus, but she could be dangerous if she can regain the form that saw her win back-to-back races, including the $100,000 Ginger Punch on June 16 prior to her break.

Sweet Story, by Mass Media
Last 3 Beyers: 81-78-73

◗ She is trending in the right direction for trainer Cathy Roundtree and had a decent interim work following her third-place finish in the Monroe.

Notapradaprice, by Paddy O’Prado
Last 3 Beyers: 77-64-75

◗ The John Servis-trained 4-year-old took a nice step forward when she was the runner-up going 7 1/2 furlongs on turf in a $62,500 optional-claiming race Sept. 23 at Gulfstream. She attracts a top rider in Paco Lopez and could be sitting on a big effort in just her third start this year.