Ray'swarrior a question mark on the drop

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A couple of statebred optional-claiming races will spice up Sunday’s 11-race program, with the ninth race at 5 1/2 furlongs on the dirt and the 10th carded at 1 1/16 miles over the inner turf. Each has a purse of $40,000.

Figuring out what to do with the speedy Ray’swarrior is the key to the ninth event. The 7-year-old finished second or third a couple of times in Florida-bred stakes earlier in the year and won an overnight stakes at Monmouth Park with a 98 Beyer Speed Figure on July 4. But he’s been idle since finishing fifth against mid-level starter-allowance company on Aug. 29 at Saratoga and shows up under a $12,500 claiming tag on Sunday.

Ray’swarrior, who has banked more than $365,000 from 23 career starts, is trained by Jason Servis for owner Michael Dubb.

Another question mark in the race is the lightly raced 3-year-old Maddy’s Last Dance, stakes-placed at 2 but unraced since finishing a tiring fourth in the one-mile Smooth Air Stakes one year ago. Maddy’s Last Dance, a homebred by Two Step Salsa, joined trainer Ron Spatz’s barn earlier this fall and has turned in some sharp works.

The well-travelled Wonder In finished fifth as the 3-2 favorite under statebred allowance conditions last month at Gulfstream Park West. The Jonathan Thomas-trained 3-year-old is expected to prompt the likely pace of Ray’swarrior as he switches back to the main track off a couple of turf sprints.

There is no clear-cut favorite among the nine entered in the 10th race. Two come out of the barn of trainer Joe Orseno, who sends out Charlotte the Brit and Cassidy’s Smile, with Charlotte the Brit perhaps slightly best of the pair.

Lovely Luvy also will take considerable support, having hit the board in eight of her last nine starts. She makes her first start Sunday since joining the stable of reigning training champion Jorge Navarro.

Other key contenders include Lookinlikeaqueen, exiting a two-length conditioned-claiming win over the Gulfstream Park West turf on Oct. 31, and Here Comes Jackie, who defeated $75,000 claiming rivals with a career-best 80 Beyer Speed Figure last summer at Saratoga.