Stylish debut winners face tough task against big-Beyer Munnys Gold
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – After winning their career debuts in convincing fashion, by 5 1/2 and 4 1/2 lengths respectively, promising fillies like Hihellohowareyou and Jolly Miss Jill would normally be expected to go postward solid favorites when stepping into allowance company for the first time, especially in a race restricted to Florida-breds.
But that will not be the case in Wednesday’s six-furlong, $54,100 allowance feature at Gulfstream Park when Hihellohowareyou and Jolly Miss Jill find themselves up against the imposing Munnys Gold, who returns to action for the first time since winning her debut in sensational fashion by 14 1/2 lengths last June at Monmouth Park. The performance earned her a spectacular 101 Beyer Speed Figure.
Munnys Gold is a daughter of Munnings owned by Robert and Lawana Low and trained by Todd Pletcher. She was being pointed for the Schuylerville at Saratoga following her eye-catching maiden performance only to be sidelined due to a bruised foot. After subsequent swelling in a hock, Pletcher opted to give Munnys Gold the remainder of her 2-year-old campaign off.
Munnys Gold shipped to Palm Beach Downs, finally returning to the work tab in late October. She has recorded a dozen workouts at the training center in preparation for her much-anticipated 3-year-old debut, including a bullet half-mile in 48.00 on Jan. 6 that drew rave reviews in the Daily Racing Form clocker report.
Trainer Jose D’Angelo felt he was going to catch an easy spot on Wednesday for Hihellohowareyou, who survived a slow start to register a popular and very easy victory as the 4-5 favorite debuting here against statebreds going 6 1/2 furlongs on Dec. 24. The daughter of Awesome Slew has continued to train in forward fashion since the outing and is well drawn on the outside in the field of seven 3-year-old fillies.
“Even though I think she’s much better at seven furlongs and a mile, I figured this would be an easy race for her the way she ran the first time, which is why I put her in there,” said D’Angelo. “Obviously Pletcher’s horse will be tough to beat. But I have a lot of confidence in my filly, especially how impressive she looked winning the first time after a poor start. I love her post and even with that other filly in the race, I think my horse is going to be very tough.”
Jolly Miss Jill withstood early pace pressure before drawing away to her easy victory when launching her career going 5 1/2 furlongs over a sloppy track on Dec. 1. The Stonehedge homebred by Handsome Mike is trained by Ralph Nicks.
The potential for a contentious pace scenario could make the late-running Esoteric an intriguing possibility turning back to a sprint after finishing seventh following an eventful start in the mile and 70-yard Juvenile Fillies decided over the Tapeta course on Nov. 19. Esoteric had rallied from last to finish a distant third behind Dorth Vader in the Juvenile Fillies Sprint going seven furlongs three weeks earlier.
The speedy Defended, Extra Indy, and High Fashion Lady complete the field.
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