Street Babe worth watching in Wednesday allowance

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – It took Street Babe until November of his 3-year-old campaign to finally make it to the races. But the wait was more than worth it for trainer Michael Dilger, who sent the son of Street Sense out to win his debut by four widening lengths going a mile at Aqueduct on Nov. 20.

Street Babe stretches out to 1 1/16 miles for his second career start in Wednesday’s $37,000 allowance feature at Gulfstream Park. Street Babe figures to vie for favoritism with the improving Biedermeier, trained by Todd Pletcher.

Street Babe broke slowly before rallying from a dozen lengths off the pace to win at first asking, earning an 87 Beyer Speed Figure. Dilger is hopeful that the strapping colt will break better and sit a little closer to the pace Wednesday with a race under his belt.

“He always broke well from the gate in his works, and I really expected him to break a lot better the day he ran,” said Dilger, who trains Street Babe for Antsu Stables Inc. “But he was pretty impressive the way he was able to circle the field without really being asked, and off his first race, it sure looks like the further, the better for him.”

Dilger said he’s in no rush to send Street Babe into stakes company.

“He’s a very big horse who was a little immature and needed time before he was ready to run,” said Dilger. “Although he looks like he’s got the talent to become a stakes horse, we waited so long to get him started. We might as well continue to take our time, do the right thing, and just let him progress at his own pace.”

Biedermeier, a son of Empire Maker, also waited a long time before making it to the races in August at Monmouth Park. He won a maiden race at second asking at Gulfstream Park West in October and is coming off his best effort yet, a second-place finish behind his more experienced stablemate None Like Nolan going a mile over a sloppy track at Gulfstream West on Nov. 9.

Key contenders

Street Babe (Beyer: 87)

◗ He has continued to work forwardly since arriving in south Florida, posting a bullet 1:00.80 work at Palm Meadows on Dec. 20.

◗ He had his debut win flattered when runner-up Coach Inge, a Pletcher trainee, came back to defeat maiden special weight opposition at Aqueduct in his next start.

Biedermeier (Last 3 Beyers: 81-68-66)

◗ Pletcher reaches out for his go-to rider, John Velazquez, and according to DRF Formulator, they have teamed up to win 37 percent of their starts together, with a $1.94 return on investment, over the last three winters at Gulfstream Park.

Downey Gap (Last 3 Beyers: 85-75-69)

◗ He has improved steadily since joining Josie Carroll’s barn and returning last summer at Woodbine from a six-month vacation.

◗ He got beat a nose in his last start by Millioninthemaking, a four-time winner who had captured a midlevel optional-claiming race with an 86 Beyer in his previous outing.

Fast Falcon (Last 3 Beyers: 79-80-85)

◗ He has been Grade 2 stakes-placed twice in his career but remains eligible for his entry-level allowance condition after 21 career starts.

◗ He has been working extremely well at Palm Meadows for his first start since February, and trainer Nick Zito has won with 16 percent of the horses he’s brought back off layoffs of six months or longer over the last three years, according to DRF Formulator.