Streaker has the right stuff for this spot

ELMONT, N.Y. - On paper, the five fillies and mares entered in Thursday's $55,000 allowance feature could not be more evenly matched based on their peak efforts this year.

But while all among the quintet have won with virtually identical Beyer Speed Figures of 80-82 in 2010, Streaker, a Phipps Stable homebred trained by Shug McGaughey, is the up-and-comer in the one-mile race.

The unbeaten Streaker will break from the rail for the third time, after beginning her career with victories at Gulfstream Park against maidens and first-level allowance rivals.

Handicappers must decide what to make of Streaker's last race. Though she received a Beyer Figure of only 71, she was confidently ridden and well in hand through deep stretch.

If pedigree and workouts mean anything, Streaker should be right at home at Belmont Park. Her half-sister Pine Island, the 2006 Alabama and Gazelle winner, also won her debut at Gulfstream as a 3-year-old, and then won an allowance race here by better than five lengths as a prelude to runner-up finishes in the Mother Goose and Coaching Club American Oaks. Streaker may well embark on a similar path if she meets or exceeds expectations on Thursday.

Streaker's dam, Matlacha Pass, raced only three times - all at Belmont - and won twice by a combined 10 lengths for McGaughey.

Streaker wintered at Payson Park. She has worked three times since arriving in New York, capped by a shared bullet half-mile of 47.12 seconds with stablemate Boisterous on the main track last Thursday.

Javier Castellano, who rode Pine Island in all seven of her starts, will ride Streaker for the first time.

As a 3-year-old facing older, Streaker will be in receipt of three to six pounds from Classofsixtythree, Quiet Mover, Zaphyra, and Dancing Daisy.

The late-blooming Zaphyra lost her first three starts by a combined margin of nearly 30 lengths, but returned from a layoff to win her first two starts as a 4-year-old, both for Rick Dutrow. In her first try at this level, Zaphyra stumbled at the start, trailed to the top of the stretch, and finished strongly for second.

Dancing Daisy, trained by David Donk, has won 3 of her last 5 starts.

Classofsixtythree is in good form for Gary Sciacca, including a recent win over Dancing Daisy.

Quiet Mover was entered by Eddie Barker for the optional $50,000 claiming price.