Stonetastic tested for stamina in Inside Information
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Despite being asked to do something she’s never done before – win going seven furlongs – Stonetastic likely will be favored to successfully stretch her abundant speed in Saturday’s $200,000 Inside Information Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Stonetastic will face nine rivals in the Grade 2 Inside Information, a group led by the Grade 1-placed Bar of Gold and Grade 3 winners Best Behavior and Tiger Ride. The field also includes Engaginglee, You Bought Her, Miss Melinda, Flutterby, Kiss to Remember, and Dogwood Trail.
Stonetastic is clearly the class of the Inside Information. She has competed in the last two editions of the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint and is a Grade 2 winner, having captured the Prioress at Saratoga during the summer of 2014. But for all her success, Stonetastic has yet to win in four starts at seven furlongs, with two of those losses coming in the Filly and Mare Sprint. Stonetastic did win going 6 1/2 furlongs in her most recent start, cruising to a five-length victory in the Miami Shores Handicap here Feb. 14.
Bar of Gold closed out her 3-year-old season last year with three straight second-place finishes against top company, beginning with the Grade 1 Test in August at Saratoga. But she’s not started since missing by a half-length to Sarah Sis as the favorite in the Grade 2 Raven Run at Keeneland on Oct. 17.
“This is a good starting point for her, and she should improve from 3 to 4,” said trainer John Kimmel.
Best Behavior, one of three horses trainer Marty Wolfson has entered in the Inside Information, upset Stonetastic in the Grade 3 Sugar Swirl here in December, edging away to a two-length victory for the first graded stakes win of her career.
If Flutterby were to win the Inside Information, she would make 95-year-old trainer Jerry Bozzo the oldest trainer ever to win a race in North America. Bozzo became the oldest trainer ever to saddle a stakes winner when Flutterby won the Gold Mover here in August.
You Bought Her hung late to finish second, beaten a head, in the Sunshine Millions Distaff here in January before rebounding with an easy win last month in the Minaret Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. She had finished third, just a nose behind Stonetastic, in the Sugar Swirl.
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KEY CONTENDERS
Stonetastic, by Mizzen Mast
Last 3 Beyers: 96-86-84
◗ She’s the only horse in the field to have posted a triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure, having done so twice, most recently a 109 for her 15 3/4-length allowance win last September at Parx. She also received a 108 for her victory at 3 in the Prioress.
Bar of Gold, by Medaglia d’Oro
Last 3 Beyers: 91-92-88
◗ She has yet to finish worse than second in three starts at seven furlongs and is twice graded stakes-placed at the distance.
Best Behavior, by Into Mischief
Last 3 Beyers: 86-91-84
◗ Like Stonetastic, she has never won at seven furlongs, although she did finish second at the distance in the 2015 Miami Shores.
Tiger Ride, by Candy Ride
Last 3 Beyers: 87-88-83
◗ She’ll make her local debut and her first start at seven furlongs.
◗ She has been idle since winning the Grade 3 Valley View at Keeneland nearly five months ago. The Valley View was taken off the turf and run at 1 1/16 miles on dirt.
“I like seven furlongs coming off the layoff, and she can build on this and go to Keeneland next month,” said trainer Graham Motion.