Promising 2-year-olds headline Sunday card
Gulfstream Park spotlights 2-year-olds on Sunday’s nine-race card, with three maiden offerings for babies. The most interesting might be the fourth race, a maiden special weight for fillies bred in Florida. The 5 1/2 furlong-sprint on the main track drew a competitive group that includes the first-time starter Star of Saturn.
“I think she could be a little bit special,” said trainer Bobby Dibona. “She struts around with a lot of class.”
Dibona said this weekend marks his first 2-year-old starters of the season. He was to have run Arrogancy in a maiden special weight Saturday at Gulfstream. Dibona said he particularly enjoys 2-year-old racing.
“It’s like the Tom Hanks movie,” he said. “It’s like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get. We’re pretty excited.”
Star of Saturn is by The Big Beast, a Grade 1 winner over seven furlongs. Star of Saturn’s dam, Marathon Lady, placed in multiple Grade 1 races. Star of Saturn, who races for Wendy Ouriel, will start from post 5 under Hector Diaz Jr.
“She’s been training lights-out,” Dibona said. “She’s been impressive. We’ve worked her against [Arrogancy]. He’s talented and she won’t let him by in a work. I let them roll out of the gate together. They were head and head and she just wouldn’t let him get by. She refused to let him by.”
Other top contenders in the fourth race include Next On Stage, who was favored at this level in her debut last out when third. The race has produced two next-out winners. Ale’s Gift is a daughter of Girvin who was second at this level last time and adds a set of blinkers Sunday.
The field also includes Singing Sandra, a half-sister to Well Defined, a multiple stakes winner of more than $770,000, and Mystic Lake, who is working sharply for Saffie Joseph.
◗ In the sixth race, Alexander Helios makes his Tapeta debut in a competitive maiden special weight over 1 1/16 miles. The 3-year-old is a half-brother to Preakness winner Rombauer, who in 2021 won on a synthetic track in the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields.
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