Simplistic back on turf for allowance feature
A New York-bred mare named Simplistic returns to the turf at Gulfstream Park on Sunday, a move that figures to work in her favor. In her last two grass starts, Simplistic was victorious, and among a field of 10 in the lone allowance on a 10-race card at the south Florida track, she looks as good as any.
Trained by Rasharn Creque, Simplistic goes in the eighth race Sunday, a $40,000, first-level allowance scheduled for a mile on the grass. Although she was a well-beaten second at this same level in her most recent start June 18, that race came over the main track. In her two previous starts, she led every step of the way, and surely that’s the strategy jockey Arny Fontanez will try to employ Sunday when breaking from post 3.
Besides Simplistic – one of three entered for an optional $16,000 claiming tag that’s also part of the race conditions – the other logical choices in the nominal feature include Jazil’s Dream, Cracking Good Pins, and Sweet Morgan. The program starts at 1 p.m. Eastern and includes a pair of maiden special weight sprints (races 6 and 7) that drew big fields of 2-year-olds.
After Sunday, Gulfstream goes dark for three days before another four-day week resumes Thursday.
KEY CONTENDERS
Simplistic (Last 3 Beyers: 65-74-65)
◗ Having competed in “beaten” $5,000 claiming company as recently as April, this mare obviously has come to peak form in recent months and surely will fit with this brand given another sharp effort.
Jazil’s Dream (Last 3 Beyers: 72-69-64)
◗ This David Fawkes-trained filly returned from a 14-month layoff with a maiden victory that came with new blinkers; she now steps up in class while likely to draw the fans’ respect off that comeback.
Cracking Good Pins (Last 3 Beyers: 68-59-65)
◗ This Illinois-bred daughter of City Zip was a winner in her first try for trainer Ron Spatz when dropping into a conditioned claimer last month; the distance and surface remain the same for this, which is good.
Sweet Morgan (Last 3 Beyers: 67-76-62)
◗ This Robert Baker homebred was beaten just a neck by Cracking Good Pins in a key race June 26 and continues to show signs of being an honest, useful sort; she will be looking to run on late again.