Repeat of last makes Renaisance Frolic tough in turf allowance
A pair of allowances with six-horse fields will serve as co-features of a nine-race Friday card at Gulfstream Park, where the South Florida forecast of perfect weather should permit turf racing as scheduled.
The first allowance goes at a mile on the turf, and Saffie Joseph Jr. can only hope Renaisance Frolic performs as well in his second race for him as in the first. Renaisance Frolic, a private purchase this spring, surely will be favored in race 6 off a 16 1/2-length romp in a May 24 off-the-turf race.
Six other older horses are entered against Renaisance Frolic in a $55,000 allowance with wide-open conditions, although Il Faraone surely will scratch as the lone “main-track-only” designate. A 5-year-old Paynter gelding, Renaisance Frolic has shown himself effective on most any surface, having consistently earned high Beyer Speed Figures when previously trained by David Fawkes, including a 98 in an allowance victory last fall over the Churchill Downs turf.
Among the most worthy opposition is the speedy Sailing Solo, making his first local start after a productive winter in New Orleans for owner-trainer Louie Roussel, and Tizzarunner, a well-traveled Maryland-bred who earned a 91 Beyer in a two-back allowance triumph over the Gulfstream turf in his first start for trainer Carlos David.
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The second allowance of the day is race 8, a $48,000, second-level race for fillies and mares going 6 1/2 furlongs. There’s quite a bit of speed signed on, with Cory Gal likely to dare all to catch her when seeking her fourth straight victory for trainer Gustavo Delgado. Crumb Bun and Liza Star figure in hot pursuit, while Spanish Point, the only 3-year-old in the lineup, will try to capitalize from just off the pace, if only she can up her Beyer game. Spanish Point, a gray Creative Cause filly, won the ungraded House Party last November with a 69 Beyer but hasn’t matched that figure since.
Both allowances are part of the Rainbow 6 sequence (races 4-9). The jackpot stood at $168,347 when a four-day week began Wednesday, meaning the track likely would be offering a pool guarantee of about $400,000 by Friday.
First post is noon Eastern. Sunshine and a high of 87 are in the forecast.
◗ The weekend highlight at Gulfstream is the $60,000 Added Elegance, to be run Saturday as a one-turn mile for fillies and mares on the main track.