Sand Drift, Dance Till Dawn rematched if Thursday feature stays on turf

MIAMI – Obviously, it’s hard to predict if the turf course will be open for business on Thursday following a seemingly endless deluge of rain here the past few weeks. That decision is sure to have a major impact on the outcome of the afternoon’s main event, a $38,000 allowance race for statebred fillies and mares carded at 7 1/2 furlongs on the grass.

If the race stays on the turf, two fillies whose form seems to be heading in opposite directions, Sand Drift and Dance Till Dawn, loom the key contenders.

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Dance Till Dawn turned in a game effort to outlast Sand Drift by a neck when the pair met at Gulfstream Park under $12,500 claiming tags on July 25. Since that time, Dance Till Dawn has finished third and second in two subsequent starts, both against Florida-bred allowance company, with her Beyer Speed Figures taking a big dip since her last win. Her most recent outing, however, might be a toss. She finished second going a mile in a race scheduled for turf but run over the main track.

Sand Drift, on the other hand, has moved forward in her only start since being defeated by Dance Till Dawn, drawing off to a 7 1/2-length victory at Gulfstream Park on Labor Day and earning a career-best 82 Beyer. Should the race come off the turf Thursday, it is pretty safe to say trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. will scratch Sand Drift, whose 16 career starts and four wins have all come on grass.

A change in venue to the dirt would likely favor Princess Betty or Carismatica, who is the lone main-track-only entrant in the field.

Princess Betty has won 2 of 4 career starts, all on dirt. In her most recent try, she rallied to victory in a $25,000 conditioned-claiming event moved from grass to the main track.

Carismatica has even less experience, having run just twice. She earned her diploma going seven furlongs against maiden special weight opposition over the main track Sept. 10 at Gulfstream.