Promising twosome square off in Gulfstream allowance

Finding Fame and Four Graces both lived up to their trainers’ expectations first-time out, winning maiden races at odds of 7-1 a week apart at Gulfstream Park.

Friday, Finding Fame and Four Graces will likely be the first and second choices, respectively, when they square off in a salty first-level allowance for 3-year-old fillies going a mile that serves as the feature on Gulfstream Park’s 10-race card.

Finding Fame, a daughter of Empire Maker owned by Gainesway Stable and Andrew Rosen, got a nice setup behind four horses early on, swung five wide turning for home, and held Primacy at bay winning by three-quarters of a length on Feb. 23. She ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.44 and earned a 74 Beyer Speed Figure. Among the 11 horses she beat that day was the hot favorite Miss T Too, who ran 10th but came back to win her maiden on March 8 with a 78 Beyer.

“I thought she ran really well, but I expected her to – she had trained well,” Shug McGaughey, the trainer of Finding Fame, said of his filly. “They were worried about the 6 1/2 [furlongs], I wasn’t. This should be a better setup for her. She’s still an immature filly. Racing and time is going to help, but I think she’s okay.”

Javier Castellano rode first out. Friday, Edgard Zayas rides Finding Fame from post 5.

Four Graces, trained by Ian Wilkes, won her debut March 1 going seven furlongs by 1 1/2 lengths. She broke from the rail and was part of a contested early pace. She put away her initial pace challenger by the quarter pole and then ran away from two other potential pace threats in upper stretch. She still had something left to hold off the late run of Estilo Talentoso, who ran second at 4-5 last Saturday at Tampa.

Four Graces ran seven furlongs in 1:23.61 and earned a field-best 83 Beyer.

Four Graces is by Majesticperfection out of the Seeking the Gold mare Ivory Empress, making her a half-sister to McCraken and With Dignity. Both of those horses – also trained by Wilkes – won their first two starts.

“I ran her seven-eighths first time out, which is not an easy thing to do,” Wilkes said. “They hung the race going a mile, which I thought is the perfect progression. It’s still one turn. We’ll see, hopefully we can get some more distance.”

Julien Leparoux went home to Kentucky, so Chris Landeros picks up the mount. Four Graces breaks from post 9 in the 10-horse field.

Super Cute was a first-out winner in January going a mile and 40 yards at Tampa Bay Downs for Christophe Clement. She has not yet run back. Four Grands was a first-out winner for Dale Romans in a six-horse field full of first-time starters on March 8.

Sweet Mia returns to Gulfstream Park, where she won her first two starts, albeit against cheaper quality. She was third with trouble in a two-turn allowance race at Tampa Bay Downs on March 7. She picks up the services of Tyler Gaffalione, who won 13 races during the opening week of the spring-summer meet.

Terri Pompay sends out the uncoupled entry of Heiressindy and Money Never Sleeps. Good Credence and Takestwotowiggle complete the field.