Stormalina heads Friday allowance

Friday’s Laurel Park card is topped by a first-level allowance for 3-year-old fillies and includes a second-level optional-claiming race and two 3-year-old filly maiden races.

The six-furlong allowance has a competitive field of nine, with favoritism likely to go to Stormalina, who ships in from New York. Stormalina is trained by Gustavo Rodriguez, who is overseeing the stable of his brother, Rudy, who is serving a suspension. Gustavo Rodriguez also has sent down runners for Friday’s optional claimer and for one of the maiden races.

Stormalina earned a field-high Beyer Speed Figure of 82 while winning her career debut in front-running style at Aqueduct in November. She has since finished fifth in the Ruthless Stakes at Aqueduct on Jan. 4.

Streamsong, trained by Tim Keefe, deserves a close look. She overcame a slow beginning to win her career debut nicely Jan. 8, earning an 80 Beyer. She went evenly at 3-5 in her Feb. 1 start to finish sixth, beaten 3 1/4 lengths. She should take a step forward here.

Mondor, trained by Donald Barr, has faced some tough competition in her five career starts. She was second by a nose to the multiple stakes winner Miss Bullistic in a restricted stakes at Parx in November and then last time out finished third behind the stakes-winning Maryland-breds Spotted Heart and My Magician.

Catcha Rising Star won her debut at 9-1 for trainer Graham Motion on Jan. 29. She dueled on the lead between horses on the far turn of that race before proving best in the stretch. The Equibase footnote says she was “fractious during the post parade,” so it may be worthwhile to observe how she behaves pre-race Friday.

Preseli’s Pulpit, who was second-best in Streamsong’s victory and third to Catcha Rising Star after racing on the pace along the inside, runs in race 4, a one-mile maiden race. She has sharp early speed and looks ready to graduate.