Possibilities abound in Ladies' Turf Sprint, Gulfstream Turf Sprint

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Turf sprints perennially rank among horseplayers’ favorite races, and that’s particularly true when the fields are as big and classy as what Gulfstream Park will be serving up Saturday on its Pegasus World Cup undercard.

The $125,000 Gulfstream Turf Sprint and its female counterpart, the $125,000 Ladies’ Turf Sprint, will help build momentum as key links in multirace wagers ending with the world’s richest horse race. The Ladies’ Turf Sprint starts off the Rainbow 6 sequence as race 7, while the Gulfstream Turf Sprint begins the late pick four as race 9. Both are five-furlong races that drew 12-horse lineups.

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 (races 7-12) offers a $300,000 pool guarantee to a solo winning ticket, while the 50-cent late pick four (9-12) carries a $1 million pool guarantee. A $500,000 pool guarantee also is in effect for the 50-cent late pick five (races 8-12).

The Ladies’ Turf Sprint (post, 2:32 p.m. Eastern) shapes up as a real scramble, with tons of speed assuring a rapid pace. Among those expected to vie for the lead are My Sister Caro, Ruby Notion, Blue Bahia, Brandy’s Girl, and Nite Delite.

How it all shakes out is the obvious question, as several others – such as Pretty Perfection, Spectacular Me, and Everything Lovely – figure to be in hot pursuit of the top flight. The stretch runners capable of capitalizing on a ruinous pace include Moon River and Triple Chelsea.

Triple Chelsea used late-running tactics to prevail for trainer Tony Granitz in one of the key races toward the Ladies’ Turf Sprint, the Dec. 17 Lightning City at Tampa Bay Downs.

“She breezed awesome last Saturday and is doing great,” Granitz said from Tampa. “It’ll be exciting to be there for such a big day in racing history.”

The Gulfstream Turf Sprint (post, 3:38) has a little more definition to it, with Mongolian Saturday, Power Alert, and Long On Value having already proven themselves as major players in this niche.

Mongolian Saturday won the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland, where last fall he punctuated his preference for that course by capturing the Grade 3 Woodford.

Power Alert has won all four of his starts here, including the Gulfstream Turf Sprint last year, when it was run on the undercard of the now-defunct Donn Handicap.

Long On Value has earned nearly $680,000 while alternating between long and short races on the grass. He could be a real danger while turning back from a one-mile race following a 10-week layoff for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

KEY CONTENDERS

Ladies’ Turf Sprint

Nite Delite, by War Chant

Last 3 Beyers: 88-87-86

◗ Trained by Linda Rice, this California-bred mare stands to benefit from her near miss behind Triple Chelsea in the Lightning City. She comes favorably drawn in post 11 under Paco Lopez.

Spectacular Me, by Catienus

Last 3 Beyers: 75-88-75

◗ This gray mare ran a big race two back when capturing a Claiming Crown event.

◗ Trained by Steve Klesaris, she is likely to be stalking the leaders under Jose Ortiz.

Everything Lovely, by Pollard’s Vision

Last 3 Beyers: 80-90-78

◗ The outside post can afford Javier Castellano some options as this Maryland-bred tries to improve off her third-place finish as the favorite in the Lightning City.

Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint

Power Alert, by Alert

Last 3 Beyers: 97-96-104

◗ This Australian-bred gray gelding has been quite the turf-sprint specialist for trainer Brian Lynch and breaks from post 11 under Julien Leparoux.

Mongolian Saturday, by Any Given Saturday

Last 3 Beyers: 90-98-107

◗ He’s the most decorated horse in this lineup with that BC victory and a $1.1 million bankroll, but he has run his best races at Keeneland.

Long On Value, by Value Plus

Last 3 Beyers: 85-92-101

◗ This multiple-stakes-winning 6-year-old will be looking to fire down the lane after Joel Rosario settles him into a rhythmic stride through the opening furlongs.