Speed on turf the theme of the day

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The popularity of turf sprints among horsemen and fans will rarely be as evident as on Friday at Gulfstream Park, where a trio of co-features all will be run at five furlongs over the spacious grass course.

All three races are $51,000 first-level allowances with claiming options, and each is separated into a different category according to age and gender. The last two are part of the Rainbow 6 sequence (races 5-10), which will be a primary focus on a 10-race card that starts at 12:35 p.m. Eastern. Dry conditions are forecast for the entire week in this region, virtually assuring that turf racing will proceed as scheduled.

Here’s a quick rundown of those Friday turf dashes:

Race 2

A number of factors are likely to combine to make the well-traveled Jo Jo Air a solid favorite over six other 3-year-old fillies – she’s by the late, great grass sire Scat Daddy; she flashed big speed versus males in one of the deepest stakes of 2018 in this niche; she exits a dominant maiden victory at Fair Grounds; and she’s trained by Wesley Ward, whose reputation with this type precedes him.

But if all that isn’t enough, the winner of this last half of the early daily double could be Eyeinthesky, who encountered considerable traffic trouble when third at this same level here last month, or Avenida Manana, a sharp last-out maiden winner who adds the meet’s leading jockey, Luis Saez.

Post time for race 2 is 1:05 p.m.

Race 6

With trainer Christophe Clement and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. in her corner, Really Proud could come a slight favorite in what shapes up as a competitive field of 10 older fillies and mares. Although she’s gone unraced for nearly six months, the Kitten’s Joy filly shows a steady recent work pattern at Payson Park and ran well here last year in winning a February maiden race and finishing third in a stakes in April.

Her primary opposition could come from Samara and R Happy Ending, both two-time turf-sprint winners.

Post time for race 6 is 3:08 p.m.

Race 8

Several of these older horses were made eligible to this spot by way of a $25,000 claiming option, most notably Amelia’s Wild Ride, a last-out winner whose career bankroll from 48 starts stands at $642,500. As an added bonus, Ortiz retains the mount on the 8-year-old ridgling.

Two other major contenders also are in for the $25,000 – Benefactor, making his first start in the care of Jorge Navarro; and Blackjack Baby, who adds John Velazquez after a pair of solid efforts at this same level here last month.

Post time for race 8 is 4:10 p.m.