Speedsters take the stage for pair of Saturday sprint stakes

It’s all about speed Saturday at Gulfstream Park West. Fillies and mares who sprint for a living will take over the program, with R Free Roll going after the sixth stakes win of her career in the $90,000 Sky Beauty and Jewel of a Cat invading for the $90,000 Sparkler.

“With the turf sprints so far and few between, we decided to ship,” said Ben Perkins Jr., who trains the Monmouth-based Jewel of a Cat.

The Sparkler is at five furlongs on the grass, and the field of 10 will include six-time stakes winner Madame Giry. The Sky Beauty, at six furlongs on the main track, drew nine including Merry Meadow, in from New York after a run-in with Artemis Agrotera in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom.

SPARKLER (RACE 5)

KEY CONTENDERS

Jewel of a Cat (Last 3 Beyers: 89-87-82)

◗ She was third, beaten just a half-length, after a less-than-ideal trip in the $200,000 Turf Amazon at Parx in her last start Sept. 1. For the five-furlong turf sprint she was favored from post 11.

“She drew wide that day,” Perkins said. “She kind of got hung out there the whole way. She made a nice run. The [winner] kind of cut the corner and opened up against us.”

◗ Jewel of a Cat was entered in last month’s $100,000 Franklin County but scratched from the Keeneland race run over yielding ground Oct. 10.

“She drew way outside, 13 out of 14, and with the weather there was a possibility we were going to be off the turf,” Perkins said. “It was a bad weather weekend. We decided not to ship her.”

◗ Jewel of a Cat will break from post 9, with Angel Serpa to ride for J and J Stables and GSP Stable.

“The ideal trip would be to sit right in the second flight, covered up behind the speed,” Perkins said. “She has a good kick to finish.”

Sky Beauty (RACE 8)

R Free Roll (Last 3 Beyers: 81-102-101)

◗ The Grade 2 winner is a horse-for-course, with a 5-for-8 record at Gulfstream Park West.

◗ She was fifth in the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America at Keeneland in her last start Oct. 4, and the first three finishers from the race are all entered back in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint to be run Saturday at Santa Anita.

Merry Meadow (Last 3 Beyers: 87-96-96)

◗ The Grade 3 winner was fourth in the Gallant Bloom last out at Belmont, with winner Artemis Agrotera now one of the top choices in the BC Filly and Mare Sprint.

◗ The Gallant Bloom has become a key race. The runner-up, La Verdad, came back to take the Iroquois at Belmont, and fifth-place finisher Classic Point returned to win the Punkin Pie, also at Belmont.