Richie's Sister switches to dirt for sprint

If Richie’s Sister can run as well on dirt as she did in three starts on turf as a 2-year-old last year, she could be the winner of a $12,500 optional-claiming race for fillies and mares that will serve as Saturday’s feature at Gulfstream Park.

The six-furlong dash restricted to Florida-breds drew six horses and goes as the 10th of 12 races. Post time for the first race is 12:55 p.m. Eastern.

Trained by David Braddy, Richie’s Sister set quick interior fractions on her way to a one-length tally over Twotimingdancer when she debuted in a five-furlong maiden special weight race at Gulfstream Park West on Oct. 10.

After finishing fourth as the favorite in a $75,000 optional claimer at Gulfstream Park West on Nov. 3, she lost by a neck in a similar race at Gulfstream, where she dueled early and was caught late by Attiya on Dec. 21. In her next race, Attiya just missed in the $75,000 Melody of Colors on Feb. 25 at Gulfstream.

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The homebred Richie’s Sister should handle the surface switch. She is out of a mare who won 13 races on dirt, and two of Richie’s Sister’s winning siblings won on the main track. However, her full sister, Remembering Richie, won three times on grass but went unplaced in two starts on dirt.

She will be ridden by Cornelio Velasquez, who likely will put her into the race soon after she breaks from post 3.

Worth Avenue will try to get back on track after a couple of disappointing efforts in $75,000 optional-claiming races at Gulfstream, the latest on March 10. Trained by Aubrey Maragh, she was very impressive in winning both of her starts as a 2-year-old and could fire a big shot as a fresh horse.

KEY CONTENDERS

Richie’s Sister, by Cowtown Cat
Last 3 Beyers: 71-60-64

◗ She ran three solid races as a juvenile, and her solid set of works suggests she is ready for another big effort off the bench.

Worth Avenue, by First Dude
Last 3 Beyers: 60-60-80

◗ She won her first two starts by a combined 15 1/2 lengths; she did have minor excuses in her last two races.

◗ She obviously can fire fresh; over the past five years, Maragh has a 22 percent strike rate and a $3.15 ROI with horses coming back in 60 to 180 days.

Summers Back, by Put It Back
Last 3 Beyers: 69-73-70

◗ A seven-time winner on turf, she won’t mind the shape of the race and could make an impact in her first start for trainer Keith Bourgeois, who claimed her out of her last race for $12,500.

◗ The only time she ran on dirt was on a wet track; she might be okay with the surface switch, and there will be speed coming back to her.

◗ FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years, Bourgeios has an 18 percent strike rate with claimed horses running back the first time. The number swells to 28 percent when they are moving from turf to dirt.

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