Sweet Ella eyes second straight win in turf allowance

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – On the off chance that there wasn’t enough racing action when the Pegasus World Cup was run for the first time Saturday at Gulfstream Park, well, there will be 12 more opportunities for horseplayers here Sunday.

Three straight turf allowances late in the afternoon will highlight a card that starts at noon Eastern and ends at 5:35. Here’s a rundown of those races.

Race 9: Sweet Ella, a winner last out for StarLadies Racing and trainer Todd Pletcher, could come a slight favorite in this $48,000, first-level race at 7 1/2 furlongs when favorably drawn in post 2 in a field of eight fillies and mares.

Sweet Ella won a starter allowance Dec. 22 in her ninth straight start in either claiming or starter company. Her top challengers include Moon Over Paris and Always Thinking, both second by a half-length at this same level in their last starts.

Race 10: With a $59,000 purse, this second-level race at 1 1/16 miles is the richest of the day, with the Mark Casse-trained Blackout among the top contenders when exiting back-to-back graded stakes.

Assigned post 1 with Jose Lezcano riding, Blackout will be looking to put that class relief to optimal use when facing nine other older horses, including Ice Cutter, most recently second in a similar race Dec. 26 for Christophe Clement; Tale of Fancy, also dropping from the graded stakes ranks for Barclay Tagg; and the uncoupled Kiaran McLaughlin duo of Watershed and Heyaarat.

Race 11: This $48,000 race drew arguably the deepest field of the day as 11 3-year-olds will be looking to make it through their first allowance condition.

Clyde’s Image, second at 45-1 behind the favored Made You Look in the Grade 3 Dania Beach three weeks ago, will try to prove that those odds were no fluke when breaking from post 2 in the 1 1/16-mile race with Joel Rosario back aboard.

Other prime considerations include Lemonist, who was disqualified from a victory at this level Dec. 17; Flowmotion, second in the ungraded Display at Woodbine in early December for Casse; and last-out maiden winner Pagliacci.

After Sunday, Gulfstream goes dark for two days before another five-day week resumes Wednesday.