Runaway debut winner J P's Delight heavily favored

MIAMI – In addition to Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint hopeful Stormy Embrace, trainer Kathleen O’Connell has another talented filly on her hands in J P’s Delight, who will be heavily favored to defeat seven other Florida-bred fillies going six furlongs in Friday’s $39,000 allowance headliner at Gulfstream Park West.

J P’s Delight, a daughter of J P’s Gusto, debuted under a $35,000 claiming tag at Gulfstream on July 26, leading throughout to register a 9 1/4-length victory going six furlongs, for which she earned an 89 Beyer Speed Figure.

“She got sick and I had to give her a little time off after her maiden win,” said O’Connell. “But she’s doing real well coming up to this race and I fully expect her to run well again, even though she’s stepping up in company.

“But you know how it can go when you have an unsocialized horse like she is. By that I mean one who has never been put in compromising positions before, because the more you step them up, the more compromising you get.”

Flashing Diamond may lack Beyer power compared to the favorite, but she certainly makes up for it in experience, having won eight times from 20 starts. Claimed for $12,500 during the Gulfstream summer meet by trainer Steve Klesaris, Flashing Diamond is also coming off a lopsided wire-to-wire victory, having defeated starter-allowance company by 6 1/2 lengths going a mile in her crosstown finale.