Wolfson has three contenders in Alachua Handicap

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – What would a filly-and-mare stakes at Gulfstream Park be without trainer Marty Wolfson? In the case of Saturday’s $60,000 Alachua Handicap, probably nothing at all.

The 1 1/16-mile Alachua drew a field of seven and would not have filled had Wolfson not entered three members of his stable, which is traditionally dominated by fillies and mares. Wolfson has Quiet Hour, Phaniebdancing, and Onna Bugeisha, all owned by Miller Racing LLC, entered against just four rivals in the Alachua. The other four are the red-hot B L’s Wagon, recent stakes winner Imposing Grace, the Churchill Downs-based Nice Number, and Sweet Basil.

Quiet Hour will make her third stakes start in seven weeks while stretching out to a distance that seems beyond her most effective range. A daughter of Quiet American, Quiet Hour won a second-level optional-claiming race going 6 1/2 furlongs this winter but was off the board in her only start at 1 1/16 miles.

Onna Bugeisha was bought privately and joined the Wolfson stable this spring after having raced exclusively on the West Coast. She finished third behind Imposing Grace as the 8-5 favorite in her local debut, which came in the one-mile Sand Dollar, and figures to improve with a race over the track and the added distance.

Phaniebdancing is one of the newest additions to the Wolfson barn after being haltered for $50,000 out of an optional-claiming race at Hawthorne on April 11. She finished a couple of noses behind Imposing Grace when the pair met at Hawthorne in October.

Imposing Grace registered her first win since capturing the Grade 3 Arlington Matron in May 2013 when she rallied to a neck decision over Flutterby in the Sand Dollar here April 19.

Key contenders

Quiet Hour(Last 3 Beyers: 72-80-80)

◗ Although distance might be a question, she did turn in a very sharp half-mile breeze over a bit of a cuppy track on Wednesday, shading 24 seconds for her final quarter while in hand. She galloped out a strong five furlongs in 1:00.60.

Onna Bugeisha (Last 3 Beyers: 83-74-82)

◗ She figures to contest the early pace with B L’s Wagon while seeking her first win since defeating midlevel optional-claiming opposition going a mile at Santa Anita one year ago.

Phaniebdancing (Last 3 Beyers: 83-84-61)

◗ She snapped a seven-race losing streak dating back nearly a year when she rallied from just off the pace in her Chicago finale and has yet to run a poor one at this distance.

Imposing Grace (Last 3 Beyers: 85-71-85)

◗ She will carry the high weight of 120 pounds, conceding two to five pounds to the competition.

B L’s Wagon (Last 3 Beyers: 83-83-85)

◗ She has flourished since joining the Larry Pilotti stable this winter, winning her last three starts by a combined 28 lengths.

◗ She loses jockey Edgar Prado, who sticks with Sweet Basil for trainer Ralph Nicks.