Weather could play role in allowance features

Horseplayers tackling Gulfstream Park on Sunday will have to handicap not only the races but the weather. The significant rain that forced cancellations earlier in the week could impact the surfaces over which the card’s pair of first-level allowance features will be conducted.

The fourth race is carded for fillies and mares at a mile on turf, but could move to Tapeta in the event additional rain hits as predicted. And if it’s moved to the synthetic track, the race will be run at a mile and 70 yards.

The ninth race is for 3-year-olds bred in Florida. Whether the 6 1/2-furlong race will be run on a fast or wet track remains to be seen as the region was under a flood watch Friday and there was additional rain in the forecast for both Saturday and Sunday, according to The Weather Channel.

The seven runners signed on for the ninth have little wet-track form among them. Raging Fury won his career debut on a surface rated good at Gulfstream. One Sharp Cookie was second in the slop and third on a good track in his two wet-track encounters. A third entrant, Cajun Fool, was sixth in a one-mile maiden race on a good track.

One Sharp Cookie could go favored after a sharp maiden special weight win at this distance over older Florida-breds on May 23.

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One Sharp Cookie’s wet-track form suggests he’d be capable of winning on an off track Sunday, while his Tomlinson Rating for a wet track also is supportive at 331. His Grade 1-winning sire, Sharp Azteca, raced twice on wet tracks, finishing second and third.

One Sharp Cookie has more natural speed than most of his rivals and could show the way Sunday or track Far From a Star when he breaks from post 6. Drayden Van Dyke has the mount for Daniel Alonso and trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

Etendre would be encountering a wet track for the first time and has a favorable Tomlinson Rating of 305. His dam, Ballet Diva, was a stakes winner in the slop at Gulfstream. Etendre’s sire, Awesome of Course, was 2 for 4 on wet tracks.

Etendre has shown talent in his young career. He won his maiden in April with a Beyer Speed Figure of 93, which is the best career number in the field. He came back and was second by a half-length in a first-level allowance before moving into Florida-bred company for the first time last out and finishing a troubled sixth on May 19.

Miguel Vasquez has the mount from the rail for Jacks or Better Farms and trainer Carlos David. Etendre has had success stalking and could get such a trip behind Far From a Star and One Sharp Cookie.

In the fourth race, Silvretta would vie for favoritism on turf following a runner-up finish at the same level. But she also has won on an all-weather track, when competing in England. Van Dyke has the mount for trainer Joe Orseno.

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