Parc Monceau to be short price in Gold Coast Stakes

Parc Monceau, a dominant winner as the favorite in each of her first two starts at Delta Downs, figures to be a similarly short price when she faces six other fillies and mares in Friday night’s $75,000 Gold Coast Stakes.

The one-mile race is restricted to older females who have started in a non-stakes at Delta or Evangeline Downs since 2014.

The 5-year-old Parc Monceau became eligible when she cruised by five lengths going seven furlongs in an optional $30,000 claimer last November as the even-money favorite. She posted a career-best 90 Beyer Speed Figure in winning the one-mile, restricted El Dorado in mid-January.

The stiffest challenge to Parc Monceau figures to come from Guadalupe High, whose 4-for-6 record at Delta includes a 2 3/4-length score in last year’s Gold Coast.

The field also includes Run Hide My Girl, who beat Guadalupe High by a length when they met Feb. 12.

KEY CONTENDERS

Parc Monceau (Last 3 Beyers: 90-76-84)

◗ In her last five starts dating back to August, Parc Monceau has been the leader at the first four calls every time except in the Tiffany Lass Stakes at Fair Grounds.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Her trainer, Tom Amoss, has exceptional stats over the past five years with dirt-route runners at Delta back after a break of 31 to 60 days (14 for 37, 38 percent).

Guadalupe High (Last 3 Beyers: 73-44-64)

◗ This 5-year-old mare has not been worse than third in six lifetime starts locally, including wins in the $100,000 Magnolia in 2013 and last year’s Gold Coast.

◗ She figures to sit just off the pace after breaking from post 6 under Don Simington.

Run Hide My Girl (Last 3 Beyers: 75-75-78)

◗ Run Hide My Girl was a distant second to Parc Monceau when they met in January.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: She comes back less than two weeks after she was claimed away from Amoss for $20,000 by Ron Faucheux. Her new trainer sports an 11-for-29 record (38 percent) the first time off the claim when he runs them within 20 days.

◗ In four starts at Delta, the 4-year-old filly has two wins and two seconds.

Handmade (Last 3 Beyers: 76-77-56)

◗ This 4-year-old filly needs a hot pace to set up her closing kick. She rallied from 6 1/4 lengths behind to win her first start at Delta by a head going seven furlongs Jan. 9. The runner-up from that optional $15,000 claimer came back to finish third in a stakes.