Sweetwater steps up in sharp form

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Sweetwater, a winner of two of her last three starts, will be among the choices when she steps up a notch in company to take on six rivals in Thursday’s $44,000 optional-claiming feature at 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track at Gulfstream Park.

Sweetwater is trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., who owns the 3-year-old filly with Alters Racing Stable. A daughter of Twirling Candy, Sweetwater was haltered by her current connections for $50,000 out of her 2016 debut in January. She added blinkers for a neck decision against lesser optional-claiming opposition five weeks ago in her last start and tuned up for Thursday’s race with a bullet half-mile work in 47 seconds here last week.

Winning for Sarah, one of four members of the field who futilely chased Cult Classic under similar conditions Aug. 26, looks to get back on the winning track for the first time since defeating similar opposition here in March. She has been second or third in three stakes races since her last win.

Other key contenders include Dogwood Trail, the recently claimed Celebrity Star, and Curlin’s Princess.

There will be a carryover of nearly $51,000 in the Rainbow 6 jackpot when racing resumes on Thursday.