Tequilita can earn one more start by winning Inside Information

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – There probably won’t be any bittersweet goodbyes Saturday for Tequilita.

Victory in the Grade 2 Inside Information might well earn the 5-year-old mare another start. Defeat could mean she’ll go quietly into the good night, away from the spotlight that has shone brightly upon her on occasion at Gulfstream Park.

“We’ll see how she runs and make a decision from there,” said Michael Matz, who trains Tequilita for his wife, owner-breeder Dorothy Matz.

Off her strong local record, Tequilita figures to be favored over seven other fillies and mares in the 40th running of the $200,000 Inside Information. Luis Saez, who has ridden her in many of her top efforts, will be back aboard and they break from post 7 in the seven-furlong race.

A three-time graded stakes winner and earner of $680,800, Tequilita was a solid third behind Blamed and Jala Jala in the Grade 3 Royal Delta here last month. A win Saturday could delay her scheduled mating with Street Sense as she detours for a final start in the Grade 1 Madison next month at Keeneland, said Matz.

Among a handful of capable rivals is Cairenn, who hasn’t raced since late September, when she captured a stakes at Laurel Park for trainer Graham Motion. Since early January, she’s had 10 workouts at the Palm Meadows training center in advance of her 5-year-old debut.

“I certainly feel like her works have been good,” said Motion. “She’s worked well with everybody I’ve worked her with.”

The Inside Information, named for the superstar Phipps Stable homebred of the mid-1990s, goes as the 11th of 13 races on a card that starts at 1:15 p.m. Eastern. Post time for the feature is 5:37. Two allowances (races 4 and 12) also are on tap.

The feature is part of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 (races 8-13), which had a jackpot in excess of $1.4 million through Wednesday’s action. Gulfstream officials have said they do not expect to hold a force-out until closing day of the championship meet, March 31.

KEY CONTENDERS

Tequilita, by Union Rags
Last 3 Beyers: 88-90-81

◗ This classy mare has a demonstrated fondness for the local surface, having won the Forward Gal at 3 and the Rampart in December, highlights of her 20-race career.

Cairenn, by First Dude
Last 3 Beyers: 88-80-87

◗ This Florida-bred mare has the credentials to match up well, although a layoff of nearly six months and unfamiliarity with the local surface beg questions.

Jala Jala, by Point Determined
Last 3 Beyers: 88-74-NA

◗ An easy score for this Mexican-bred star against lesser on the Clasico Caribe program was underscored by her runner-up finish at 7-1 in the Royal Delta.

America’s Tale, by Gio Ponti
Last 3 Beyers: 71-88-85

◗ Midwest shipper gets a pass for the last-out turf experiment and comes a sleeper type here following marked progress last fall for trainer Bernie Flint.

Pacific Gale, by Flat Out
Last 3 Beyers: 91-79-73

◗ She’s been big odds in two local starts and outran them both times, finishing third at 30-1 in the Sugar Swirl and second at 44-1 in the Hurricane Bertie.

Pink Sands, by Tapit
Last 3 Beyers: 87-82-77

◗ Trained by Shug McGaughey, who also conditioned Inside Information, this filly has turned a corner in recent months, having won her last two.