Pick your flawed contender in Sunday sprint feature
Those looking for a horse without a notable fault in Sunday’s featured 10th race at Gulfstream Park, a $43,000, first-level allowance with a $16,000 claiming condition, are in for a fruitless search. All seven entrants have strikes against them from various handicapping perspectives.
Lots of Chocolate and Sweetwater are returning from layoffs, Flash Jak was running for a $6,250 claiming price just two starts ago, Little Alexandra has never faced winners, Jamie’s Dancer is 3 for 48 in her career, Formal Class lost her last race by more than 22 lengths, and Black Heir hasn’t won a race since January 2014.
So, for horseplayers, the six-furlong race boils down to which faults bettors can accept.
If one can get past Black Heir’s 10-race losing streak, she fits based on recent form. She has hit the board in three straight races, including when second in her most recent start against similar opposition July 14.
Those willing to forgive a long series of starts for cheap claiming prices may be intrigued by Flash Jak’s record of 5 wins, 4 seconds, and 2 seconds in 19 races on the Gulfstream Park main track.
And Sweetwater, off since a fourth June 25, has appeal from an early-speed standpoint, possessing clearly the highest Moss Pace Figures, hinting that she could clear from the opposition.
A 3-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy, she also exits a far stronger allowance than this one. Four of her seven rivals from her last race returned to win their next starts, and another, the victorious Sweet Khaleesi, came back to run second in a stakes race for Florida-breds.
The success of horses exiting that race may push her to favoritism, particularly with high-percentage jockey Tyler Gaffalione aboard. She races with blinkers for the first time, an equipment change that may add early aggressiveness.
◗ Gulfstream Park announced Thursday that two racing programs have been added to its summer meet. Racing has been added on Wednesday, Aug. 24, and Thursday, Sept. 8 – dates that had been scheduled to be dark.
P.J. Campo, vice president of racing for The Stronach Group and general manager of Gulfstream Park, said in a release that the track is seeing growing interest in its summer product. “We will continue building summer racing in Florida,” he said.