Streaking Queen Del Valle at home on turf

Queen Del Valle seeks her fifth straight win in a five-furlong turf dash for 2-year-old fillies in race 7, and Sonic Mule is the one to beat in a six-furlong sprint for 2-year-olds that drew five horses in race 4 at Gulfstream Park West on Thursday.

Both races are $75,000 optional claimers.

RACE 7

Queen Del Valle has been perfect since she moved to turf in her second start, which was her first for trainer Reid Nagle, who claimed her for $25,000 out of a third-place finish on the main track at Gulfstream on June 24.

The versatile daughter of Baryshnikov was very impressive in her latest win, going 7 1/2 furlongs in a $35,000 optional-claiming race at Gulfstream Park West on Oct. 14. With Edgard Zayas aboard, she appeared to be full of run but was stuck behind horses until a hole opened turning for home. She exploded when given her cue, and once she made the lead, she stayed there.

Queen Del Valle drew post 5 in the 10-horse field, with Zayas retaining the mount.

Fallen Leaf, trained by Gary Jackson, was nearly home and cooled out when she tried to jump the rail approaching the wire in her first try on grass. However, with blinkers on, the speedy daughter of A. P. Warrior made no mistakes when she scored a front-running victory in a five-furlong maiden special weight race on the Gulfstream turf course Sept. 10.

Other speed will be provided by Richie’s Sister, who set fast fractions while winning her debut over this surface Oct. 10 for trainer David Braddy.

RACE 4

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Sonic Mule romped in his debut in a maiden special weight race at Monmouth and did well in two of his next three starts in stakes races. He also had an excuse when he finished fourth in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special, where he got bumped hard at the half-mile pole.

The son of Distorted Humor comes into this race off a runner-up finish in the $75,000 Armed Forces at Gulfstream Park on Oct. 1; he was trying turf for the first time in the one-mile race. In his most recent start, he finished third in the $103,000 Sapling at Monmouth Park on Sept. 4.

He drew the outside post, where he likely will stalk with Zayas retaining the mount.

Arrecife was very impressive in winning his debut over a sloppy track for trainer Antonio Sano.

With Jesus Rios aboard, the son of Majestic Warrior missed the break in the six-furlong maiden special weight race at Gulfstream on Oct. 1, but after gathering himself, he finished full of run to win going away.

His two bullet five-furlong works on fast tracks at Gulfstream Park West on Oct. 22 and Oct. 28 are a good indication that he isn’t just a horse who thrives on wet surfaces.