Passion Plus better than win record suggests

Passion Plus will appreciate the class relief when she drops into a first-level allowance race that serves as the feature race at Gulfstream Park West Wednesday. The 1 1/8-mile race for fillies and mares carries a $25,000 claiming option, with Amazing Audrey being the only one of eight horses entered eligible to be claimed.

The eight-race card begins at 1 p.m. Eastern. Adding interest to the mid-week program is the $225,365 carryover in the Rainbow 6, which begins on the third race.

Passion Plus has just a single win in 2019, but has yet to run a bad race in seven starts this year, all at Gulfstream Park for trainer Antonio Sano.

She did finish fifth in the $75,000 Monroe, but she was up against it breaking from post 13 in a 14-horse field. Edgard Zayas managed to get her into a striking position heading into the stretch turn in the 1 1/16-mile turf race, but she flattened out late.

The 77 Beyer she received is the best last-race figure in the field and she received an 80 Beyer for her runner-up finish in a first-level allowance race going a mile on turf on Sept. 14.

She drew post 3 with Zayas up.

KEY CONTENDERS

Passion Plus, by Passion for Gold

Last 3 Beyers: 77-80-67

◗ The move to an inside post where Zayas should be able to let her fall into a stalking position should help. The five-time winner should also have an honest pace to work with.

She’s Right Again, by Discreetly Mine

Last 3 Beyers: 72-75-73

◗ The 5-year-old Kentucky-bred mare is the only other horse in the field with five wins, and she looked good winning a $35,000 conditioned claimer going 7 1/2 furlongs on turf for trainer Sarah Nagle on Sept. 8.

◗ She was claimed out of the race by Peter Walder, who the past five years has a 21 percent strike rate and $2.26 ROI with claimed horses running back the first time.

◗ She has tactical speed, drew the rail, and figures to get a nice trip from a forward position with Paco Lopez riding her for the first time.

◗ As with all of the horses in the field, she has to prove she can win going this far.

Amazing Audrey, by Bodemeister

Last 3 Beyers: 70-79-77

◗ The 4-year-old Kentucky-bred also has tactical speed but didn’t show it when she finished fifth as the favorite in her first try running over the local turf course in a second-level allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option. She also got shuffled back going down the backstretch in the one-mile race.

◗ It was her first start for trainer Robert Dibona, who claimed her out of a front-running win going a mile and sixteenth on turf in a $25,000 claimer at Saratoga on Aug. 15.

◗ She could be dangerous if apprentice Cristian Torres can get her into the mix early.