Sift through clues among lightly raced maidens
There are no stakes or allowances to ponder when handicapping Friday’s card at Gulfstream Park. But for horseplayers who enjoy digging up pedigrees and looking for potential among lightly raced or first-time starters, there are five maiden races on the 10-race card.
Among the most intriguing of these is the seventh race, for 2-year-old fillies. A five-furlong dirt race for Florida-breds, it carries a $40,000 purse and drew a field of 12.
Four fillies in the lineup have experience: Backstage, who shifts from turf to dirt after a runner-up finish in her lone race June 25; Jax, who has twice hit the board in as many starts; Lago Lindo, third in her debut June 23; and Star Gala, the fifth-place finisher in the same race in which Backstage was second.
Lago Lindo should start as one of the favorites, having trainer statistics on her side. She is trained by Ralph Nicks, who is 9 for 36 (25 percent) over the past five years with second-out juveniles in maiden races, according to DRF Formulator statistics. Unfortunately for bettors, short odds on many of these runners resulted in a $1.34 return on investment with the sampled runners.
Tyler Gaffalione rides Lago Lindo, a daughter of High Cotton owned by Red Oak Stable.
Race 7
Key Contenders
Backstage, by Put It Back
Beyer: 51
◗ She managed a second in her debut despite a wide trip caused largely by her drawing post 10 in an 11-horse field. Hung in midpack going into the turn of a five-furlong grass race June 25, she had the widest trip in the race, per Trakus, covering 50 more feet than the inside-breaking Star Gala.
Evvamene, by Kantharos
◗ This first-time starter is by Kantharos, the second-leading sire in Florida, and his progeny, typically sprinters, have won 25 percent of their debuts.
◗ Her workouts are fast, particularly her last breeze, when she went a half-mile out of the gate July 3 at Gulfstream in 47.20 seconds.
Jax, by City Zip
Last 2 Beyers: 42-NA
◗ Typical of a Wesley Ward-trained juvenile, she is speedy. She even managed to make the lead June 26 after a somewhat tardy start and could improve with a sharper beginning. Previously, she had finished third, placed second via disqualification, in a 4 1/2-furlong race at Gulfstream in which her Beyer Speed Figure was not calculated.
Yankee Perfection, by Majesticperfection
◗ This first-time starter sold well at OBS in April for $52,000 and has trained quickly since then at Gulfstream, recording five-furlong and three-furlong bullet works.