Parx: Two show turf talent

Bounding Bi and Ushuaia have started a combined 31 times and have gotten the opportunity to run on turf just twice apiece. Considering how well they both have done, it’s safe to assume there will be a lot more grass racing in their futures.

The 4-year-old Bounding Bi, who cleared her first allowance condition last month after missing by a half-length in her turf debut last September, and 5-year-old mare Ushuaia, who has a close second and a daylight win since being switched to the grass in her first two starts this season, head a lineup of eight fillies and mares in Monday’s feature at Parx Racing. The second-level optional $25,000 claimer is scheduled for five furlongs on turf and goes as race 8.

Bounding Bi, locally based with trainer Louis Linder, has raced 17 times on dirt during her career, mostly for claiming prices between $12,500 and $25,000. She posted an 82 Beyer Speed Figure finishing second in her first start on grass, which came in a $16,000 starter allowance, and led wire to wire, earning an 83 Beyer, for her first-level allowance victory on June 19.

Ushuaia began her 12-race career running on Polytrack at Woodbine and Keeneland, compiling a 1-for-5 record, and matched that record competing on dirt in Indiana and Kentucky. She experimented on turf when she switched barns to Tony Dutrow. In a pair of six-furlong sprints for a $25,000 tag at Belmont Park, Ushuaia was beaten three-quarters of a length and then drew off to win by 3 3/4 lengths, recording Beyers of 78 and 81.

The third logical contender in Monday’s race is Amnesian, who outran her 17-1 odds to finish second by a neck in a second-level allowance three weeks ago. From the barn of leading trainer Juan Carlos Guerrero, Amnesian has yet to surpass a 76 Beyer in 13 starts on the turf. She has made seven tries at this same level since September 2009, missing by a nose in October of that year.

Sydney Speaks, a 5-year-old who has been first or second in 5 of 10 starts in turf sprints, fits well in this spot, based on the 79 Beyer she received for her most recent effort, which came in a second-level allowance at Penn National. Though fifth in that race, she was beaten just 1 1/4 lengths.