Spotlight on pair of 3-year-old races for Thursday card

A couple of $35,000 starter/optional-claiming races restricted to horses who have not won a race other than a maiden or claiming share the spotlight Thursday at Gulfstream Park. Both races are restricted to 3-year-olds, with fillies going 1 1/16 miles over Tapeta in the seventh race and colts at the same distance on turf in the last of eight races. A maiden special weight race for 2-year-olds kicks off the card that begins at 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

Leading trainer Saffie Jospeh Jr. has a couple of live horses in the seventh race.

Goats On a Tree won’t mind moving back to Tapeta following a fourth-place finish on turf for the same condition March 31. With Paco Lopez aboard, the Kentucky-bred daughter of Bold d’Oro finished well, but was no threat to the winner, Boomin’ Belle, who won the one-mile race by 1 3/4 lengths over Ashima. Goats On a Tree’s lone win came going 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta with Edgard Zayas aboard in her final start of 2023.

Goats On a Tree will break from the rail with Zayas up.

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She Takes Cash is coming off a win at the distance in a $35,000 maiden-claiming race Feb. 24. The New York-bred was making just her fifth start and could have considerable upside.

She Takes Cash has tactical speed and could get a nice trip from a forward position. The daughter of Street Boss will break from post 3 with Edwin Gonzalez up.

Refugiada could be sitting on a big effort in her third start of her current form cycle and will appreciate the class relief following a fifth-place finish going 1 1/16 miles on turf in a first-level allowance race with a $75,000 claiming option on April 7 at Tampa Bay.

Trained by Victor Barboza Jr., Refugiada won her debut sprinting on Tapeta for $50,000 on Sept. 22.

The Mark Casse-trained Seat At the Table figures to move forward in her second start of the year and is back facing females after taking on the boys March 9. The Florida-bred daughter of The Factor exits a super key first-level allowance race for Florida-breds that carried a $50,000 claiming option. The first four finishers all came back to win, most notably the winner, Crystal Quest, who returned to win the $100,000 Sophomore Turf at Tampa Bay.

It is hard to separate the contenders from the pretenders in the eighth race.

Live High Live Low is interesting. Trained by George Weaver, Live High Live Low looked good winning a $25,000 maiden-claiming race in just his third start March 16. With Tyler Gaffalione aboard, the Kentucky-bred son of Cool Front was midpack early, before rallying to win the 7 1/2-furlong dash on turf going away. A half-brother to multiple turf route winner Lab Rat, Live High Live Low could thrive in his first route attempt with Zayas riding.

The Mike Maker-trained Because the Night could be dangerous with the blinkers going on for the first time.

Speed Control has decent tactical speed and could make a big impact in his second start for trainer Carlos David who claimed him for $25,000 out of his maiden win March 3.

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