Sisterson finds sweet spot for Tamarama to score first U.S. win

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Theoretically, trainer Jack Sisterson has found a cushy spot for Tamarama, fourth in the Grade 2 Flower Bowl while making her U.S. debut this summer at Saratoga, in an entry-level allowance and optional-claiming race Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Whether theory actually turns to reality is a question bettors will have to answer when assessing the first of three similarly conditioned allowance races to be decided on a marathon 12-race card that begins at 12:10 p.m.

Tamarama will face nine other fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles over the Tapeta surface. She joined Sisterson’s barn this summer after launching her career in Great Britain, where she captured 4 of 15 starts under the tutelage of Ralph Beckett. A versatile sort with victories at distances ranging from a mile to 1 1/4 miles, Tamarama should have little trouble handling the Tapeta after capturing two of her four previous tries over synthetic tracks in her native England.

Although Tamarama finished last of just four starters in the Flower Bowl, she was defeated only 2 1/4 lengths by wire-to-wire winner Parnac after attending the pace from the outset. Perhaps even more impressive is the fact she was beaten just more than a length for second money by Grade 1 winner McKulick, who came out of the race to capture the Grade 3 Waya in her next start.

Tamarama has made just one start since the Flower Bowl, finishing 10th and last after prompting the pace in the Grade 3 Ontario Matron over the Tapeta track at Woodbine on Oct. 14.

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I figured she’d get the lead in the Flower Bowl, but Christophe’s [Clement] horse [Parnac] took it instead and I thought she ran really well chasing that filly all the way,” Sisterson said. “She came out of the race great, and I felt like we’d get some black type on her at Woodbine, especially racing over the synthetic track which she handled so well when she won at Kempton.

“Obviously, her race was disappointing. She travelled well, then just stopped at the quarter pole. I have no explanation. She came out of the race fine and has trained well ever since.”

The allowance conditions of Saturday’s race fit Tamarama perfectly, considering the purse money she earned in each of her victories across the pond.

“It’s a fantastic spot, so fingers crossed. Hopefully, we’ll get her back to her winning ways Saturday and then point for a race like the Suwannee River to try to get that black type later in the meet,” Sisterson said.

Those looking to side against Tamarama, who will be a short price, have plenty of options, including the lightly raced Silver Ticket, who turned in an eye-catching local and synthetic-track debut when drawing off to a 6 1/4-length maiden special weight triumph in which she earned an 89 Beyer Speed Figure for trainer Todd Pletcher here Oct. 13.

Other key contenders include Tamarindo, who will be trying to rebound from a very disappointing outing as the 9-5 favorite under similar conditions here last month; Queen Macha, who has returned from a one-year absence with a pair of very sharp outings over the Tapeta; and Demogorgon, a remarkably consistent sort who has maintained top form since returning to racing exclusively on the synthetic strip during the second half of the season.

A field of eight main-track sprinters will compete under similar conditions going six furlongs in the afternoon’s 10th race, which features the return of the speedy King Cab, a stakes winner at 3 but idle since a poor effort on April 8; Parx Racing invader Buff Hello, already a six-figure earner in 2023; and Bird Wildcat, once beaten in four career starts at the distance.

It will be back to the Tapeta for the third and final allowance event on the card, which brings together 10 older males at 1 1/16 miles with Tiz Romantic, Space Runner, California shipper Hakkimi, and Possiblemente among the leading candidates in a wide-open field.

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