Singanothersong heats up in cool weather

MIAMI – Temperatures are supposed to plunge into the low 50s around the Miami area early next week, and the cooler weather cannot get here soon enough for trainer Ron Pellegrini, whose Singanothersong seems to blossom every year around this time.

Singanothersong will try to get back on track when taking on seven rivals Sunday at Gulfstream Park West in a wide-open renewal of the $90,000 Kenny Noe Jr. Stakes. The six-furlong dash lured an evenly matched field that also includes the local favorites Grande Shores, Close It Out, Risk Factor, City of Weston, and Speechify, as well as the improving 3-year-old Little Daddy.

Singanothersong has started just twice this year and only once since finishing fifth in the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint in February. A homebred son of Songandaprayer owned by Herman Van Den Broeck, Singanothersong rose to the top of the local sprint division one year ago after posting back-to-back victories at Gulfstream Park, including a 1 3/4-length decision over Fort Loudon in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector.

“We had a problem with him during the summer because he’s a non-sweater,” said Pellegrini. “We had the same issue with him last year. He turned it around last year once the weather changed, and we’re hoping it will be the same again this year.”

Singanothersong figures to stalk the early pace of Risk Factor, who led throughout to defeat Grande Shores, Close It Out, and City of Weston in that order under open-allowance conditions Oct. 22 at Gulfstream Park West.

Little Daddy wheels back just 10 days after a career-best performance, an eye-catching 8 1/2-length optional-claiming win going seven furlongs here Nov. 6.

Speechify returns to the main track after finishing a disappointing eighth in both his turf and stakes debut three weeks earlier in the Gin Rummy Champ Stakes.

Key contenders

Singanothersong (Last 3 Beyers: 76-88-99)

* Won his second start off the layoff at this time a year ago and goes second off the layoff once again in the Kenny Noe.

* Reunites with his favorite rider, Juan Leyva, who guided him to a pair of victories last year, including the Mr. Prospector.

Grande Shores (Last 3 Beyers: 93-93-93)

* A model of consistency, he has scored Beyer Speed Figures between 91 and 93 in each of his last seven starts.

* Loves the Gulfstream Park West strip, having posted seven of his 10 career wins over his home course and finishing worse than third just three times in 18 local tries.

Close It Out (Last 3 Beyers: 89-83-90)

* Stretch runner and another who relishes the Gulfstream Park West strip. Showed sharp speed in posting a bullet half-mile work at Gulfstream one week ago in preparation for his return to stakes competition.

Little Daddy (Last 3 Beyers: 94-72-60)

* Must not bounce or regress while returning on short rest off far and away a career-best effort earlier this month.

* Gets a break in weight from most of the key contenders as the lone 3-year-old in the field but loses his favorite rider, Paco Lopez, who already had committed to trainer Ralph Nicks and Speechify.

Risk Factor (Last 3 Beyers: 95-72-90)

* At his best when clear on the lead, he got away with a relatively soft opening quarter en route to his latest victory and might not have that luxury Sunday.

Speechify (Last 3 Beyers: 81-86-92)

* Exits a much-needed try on the grass when making his first start in nine months but must step up his game a bit from a Beyer standpoint to defeat this group of more seasoned sprinters.