Speechify on sidelines with minor suspensory injury

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Ralph Nicks has reported that his graded-stakes-winning speedster Speechify has been sidelined due to a minor suspensory injury. The 5-year-old is used to overcoming adversity, surviving as he does on a liquid diet due to a restricted esophagus which prevents him from eating solid food.

“It’s nothing major, just a little setback,” said Nicks. “He’ll miss 60 days and then be back in training.”

Speechify’s most important victory came here early last winter in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector.

◗ A pair of first-level allowance races going five furlongs on the turf, one for fillies and mares and the other for both sexes, highlight Sunday’s card. Silver Sashay, a wire-to-wire winner on the grass course in her last start, figures to go postward the favorite in the distaff division. Her Kirk Ziadie-trained stablemate Great Harbour Cay, a runaway maiden winner on the dirt on April 30, will be among the ones to beat in the open division, along with Galardonado, Start Up, and Little Baltar.

◗ Awesome Banner, who set a course record by sprinting 4 1/2 furlongs in 51.07 seconds winning his debut by 9 3/4 lengths earlier this month, worked four furlongs easily in 46.95 on Friday. Awesome Banner is trained by Stanley Gold for his owner-breeder, Jacks or Better Farm.