Zloty returns in turf route after extended layoff
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Todd Pletcher won’t be doing much pregaming Sunday prior to Super Bowl XLIX. He has a filly named Zloty to saddle in the featured race at Gulfstream Park, so he’ll leave the shotgunning and woo-hooing to those with more time on their hands.
Pletcher said this week he is giving a tepid nod to New England in its epic battle with Seattle. His level of interest, however, is minimal in comparison with what transpires a bit earlier with Zloty, one of 11 older fillies and mares in the lone allowance on the Sunday card, a $48,000, first-level turf race at 1 1/16 miles.
Owned by Flavor Racing, Zloty, who will be making her first start for Pletcher, returns from a 15-month layoff and is the likely favorite. Since mid-December, the cleverly named Exchange Rate filly shows seven recorded workouts at the Palm Beach Downs training center in nearby Delray Beach, Fla.
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“She has trained very well,” Pletcher said Friday from Palm Beach Downs. “Hopefully, we have her tight enough off the extended layoff.”
First post Sunday is the usual 12:30 p.m. Eastern, with the feature set for 5:06 and the last race at 5:38. Super Bowl kickoff is 6:30.
After Sunday, Gulfstream goes dark for two days before another five-day race week commences Wednesday.
KEY CONTENDERS
Zloty (Last 3 Beyers: 76-70-67)
◗ This Florida-bred 4-year-old went to the sidelines following three starts at 2 for Bradley Thoroughbreds and trainer Chad Brown, then actually had two sustained training periods prior to this latest one, including a span at Saratoga during the summer when posting five workouts.
◗ Pletcher, fresh from receiving his seventh Eclipse Award as outstanding trainer, shows outstanding numbers in the categories that apply here, including first start with the trainer and 180-day-plus layoffs (22 percent each in 2014-15).
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 10 Zloty. Trainer Todd Pletcher is 9-0-1-0 over the past five years in turf routes following a layoff of one year or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Sumba Sunset (Last 3 Beyers: 80-80-39)
◗ This Street Cry filly, who narrowly missed becoming a graded stakes winner when beaten a head in the Boiling Springs on Labor Day, has the look of a major contender when dropping out of another stakes, the Dec. 20 Tropical Park Oaks, a race in which she was beaten 3 1/2 lengths by the winner despite encountering trouble.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 11 Sumba Sunset. Trainer Michael Matz is 41-10-6-3 with a $3.09 ROI over the past two years in turf routes in the third start following a layoff. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Night Song (Last 3 Beyers: 83-65-86)
◗ A sensational run through the lane in her latest crack at this condition fell just short, but clearly it was an encouraging effort that makes her a viable threat on this slight stretch-out from a mile.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Night Song. Trainer Amy Tarrant is 20-5-1-0 with a $6.32 ROI over the past five years in turf routes in the third start following a layoff. (She's 1 for 32 in the first start and 1 for 29 in the second off a layoff in turf routes.) Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Charlie A (Last 3 Beyers: 77-71-62)
◗ A nifty ground-saving trip from just off the pace is on order for this Casa Farms homebred, who likely needed her last start for Michelle Nihei, the former Pletcher assistant whose subpar recent numbers belie her considerable talent as a horsewoman.