Turf the question mark for Speechify
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – After spending several frustrating days trying to get a race for his Grade 3-winning sprinter Speechify, trainer Ralph Nicks finally will be able to get his star back in action Thursday when he takes on five rivals in a $46,000 optional-claiming race at five furlongs on the turf.
Nicks had entered Speechify in last Thursday’s Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn Park but opted to stay at home. He then attempted to get him into Saturday’s Manatee overnight stakes here on turf, which failed to fill two days running.
“I really didn’t want to put him in so tough off the layoff at Oaklawn, and the 90 percent chance of rain in the forecast there cinched the deal,” said Nicks.
In his only start on grass, Speechify finished eighth, beaten 2 1/4 lengths, in an overnight stakes at Gulfstream Park West last October.
“I still think he can run on the turf,” said Nicks. “I can throw out his first start on grass at Calder after he broke slow and got in trouble.”
Speechify, 5, became a Grade 3 winner in the Mr. Prospector here in December. He stumbled at the start and finished third in his only start this season, which came Feb. 21 in the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint.
“My main goal for him right now is the Smile Sprint here in July, but if he shows he can turf, it opens up a lot of avenues for him,” said Nicks.
Speechify will break from the rail with Edgar Prado aboard.
El Botas moved from trainer Jorge Navarro to Bobby Dibona’s barn following his second-place finish in a midlevel starter-allowance dash on the turf three weeks ago. The speedster won a race similar to Thursday’s this winter.
Key Contenders
Speechify (Last 3 Beyers: 85-103-97)
◗ His half-sister Premura (by Bernardini) won a maiden special weight race going a distance of ground over the Fair Grounds turf course in December.
El Botas (Last 3 Beyers: 84-76-68)
◗ Dibona owns an 11 percent success rate, with a return on investment of just 57 cents, with horses switched to his barn and running for the first time.
◗ El Botas looked home free in his last start when well clear at midstretch before getting run down in the closing strides by Tripski, who rallied from last.
Yes I’m Lucky (Last 3 Beyers: 74-88-80)
◗ He’s a two-time stakes winner on turf, including in the 5 1/2-furlong Laurel Futurity, which he won by more than six lengths.
Stormy Rush (Last 3 Beyers: 91-84-89)
◗ He was hung wide in the Silks Run overnight stakes March 14, finishing fourth in his first start in nearly seven months. He won a stakes over this course and distance a year ago.