Ticket to Seattle can fly

Ticket to Seattle is dangerous as the controlling speed in the six-furlong $75,000 Peach Blossom Stakes at Delaware Park.

A two-time wire-to-wire winner over the track last season, Ticket to Seattle flashed superior speed in a second-level allowance on opening day before weakening slightly in deep stretch to finish second.

She comes back three weeks later off a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 88. Her trainer, Steve Klesaris, shows high-percentage success with fillies and mares making their second start off a layoff following a Beyer top (5 for 14, $3.91 return on investment) and female sprinters returning in 21 days or less (4 for 14).

One note of caution: Ticket to Seattle's good performance came over a track that distinctly favored early speed. Six of the eight winners in Thoroughbred races on opening day were first or second at the first call.

The filly to beat, if trainer Alan Goldberg opts to run in this spot rather than Friday's $125,000 Miss Preakness at Pimlico, is You Asked. A closer, You Asked finished second in the Grade 3 Old Hat and third in the Grade 2 Forward Gal, both at Gulfstream Park.

Five Star Daydream is also cross-entered in the Miss Preakness. Although her best races have come when she has been on the lead, Five Star Daydream doesn't appear to have as much early speed as Ticket to Seattle.