Quezon appears to be cream of crop

Handicappers looking for a strike-free horse in Friday’s featured ninth race at Gulfstream Park, a seven-furlong, $46,000 allowance with a $62,500 claiming condition, are out of luck. All five entrants have things going against them in one form or another.

The favored Quezon hasn’t raced since May 25. Unbridled Courage is seemingly better on turf and synthetic than dirt. Fond of Sarah ran a subpar 61 Beyer Speed Figure when running a distant third last out at this level. And Emincencia and Curlin’s Princess come off suspect races in which the former lost by 14 lengths and the latter was eased.

With that in mind, the fact that Quezon hasn’t raced in 10 months may not prove an insurmountable hurdle. She is the most talented filly in the race, having won three of four starts, including two stakes races for New York-breds.

She is also proven fresh, winning her debut in September 2014 at Belmont Park and the Bouwerie Stakes after nearly six months away in her last start May 25.

A 4-year-old daughter of Tiz Wonderful owned by Marc Keller, she has been breezing regularly since mid-January at Palm Meadows for trainer Robert Ribaudo. Leading jockey Javier Castellano rides.

Key Contenders

Fond of Sarah, by With Distinction

Last 3 Beyers: 61-22-78

◗ Narrowly won a similar race at Gulfstream on Jan. 8 in her first start of the winter. Hasn’t run to expectations in two starts since then, beginning with a last-place finish in the Miami Shores on Feb. 14 and later with a distant third in a slow race March 10.

◗ Appears to be the speed of the field and is likely to be sent to the front from the inside post.

Quezon, by Tiz Wonderful

Last 3 Beyers: 85-71-79

◗ Is perfect in three starts around one turn, with her only defeat coming when fourth in the Grade 2 Demoiselle at 1 1/8 miles in November 2014.

◗ Per Formulator, Ribaudo is 0 for 17 over the last five years with horses returning from layoffs of 180 days or more, although three ran second, each beaten less than a length, and another three ran third.

Unbridled Courage, by Leroidesanimaux

Last 3 Beyers: 78-86-90

◗ Should appreciate a class drop into an allowance after racing in six consecutive stakes, all on turf.

◗ Adds blinkers for her return to dirt, a surface on which she ran twice ran third at ThistleDown in the fall of 2014.