Horse Racing Betting: Ladies Take Center Stage in Trio of Stakes at Gulfstream Park
If you like betting on the lades, Gulfstream Park should be your destination on Saturday, with the Fasig-Tipton Filly Festival featuring three excellent graded stakes on the ten race card.
The stakes action kicks off in the seventh race, the $100,000 Sabin Stakes (G3) for fillies and mares going a mile on the main track. The race drew eight fillies and mares, led by Justwhistledixie, who is coming off a fourth place finish in the El Encino (G2) at Santa Anita over the Pro Ride surface.
The daughter of Dixie Union will appreciate the return to conventional dirt and to her favorite surface.
The filly’s two best efforts in her ten race career occurred at Gulfstream Park during her three year old campaign. She won the Davona Dale (G2) and Bonnie Miss (G2) in her two starts here.
Her main rival appears to be the talented Jessica Is Back, who is coming off a runner up finish in the Sunshine Millions Distaff here on Jan. 30.
The mare was not on her best behavior, breaking through the gate, and after dueling for the early lead could not hold off the winner Sweet Repent in the late stages.
She has earned some lofty speed figures over the past year, hitting the triple digit Beyer plateau four times in her last six starts.
The mare is trained by Marty Wolfson, who also sends out Matchless Orinda, who came off a eight month layoff with a smashing win against Alw-3 optional claimers.
The mare has landed in the exacta in all five of her trips over the Gulfstream Park main track.
The eighth race is the $150,000 Davona Dale Stakes (G2), which drew a talented field of eight three year old fillies who will go a one turn mile on the main track.
Bickersons is likely to go off as the favorite off her strong win last out in the Forward Gal Stakes (G2) on Jan. 31 here going seven furlongs.
The Kelly Breen trainee pressed the early pace and drew off smartly in the stretch to win by seven lengths, earning a career top speed figure in the victory.
The filly has popped a couple of quick works in preparation for the race, and she can handle the stretch out to the one mile distance.
Sassy Image comes into the race riding a three race winning streak. Her local debut was a winning one, taking the Sweetest Chant Stakes in the slop, a race taken off the turf.
She capped off her two year old campaign by taking the Golden Rod (G2) and Pocahontas (G3) at Churchill Downs.
The wildcard in the race is the Richard Dutrow trained Amen Hallelujah, who will be making her conventional dirt debut.
She has won three of her seven starts, all on synthetic surfaces. Her last outing was a victory in the Santa Ynez (G2) over the Pro Ride surface at Santa Anita.
Two fillies making their stakes debut may be heard from in the race.
Comic Marvel is perfect in two starts, beating first level allowance company last out despite a poor break and having to steady in traffic heading down the backstretch.
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She is trained by hall of fame trainer Bill Mott and has quite the pedigree. Among her sibs are stakes winners Burning Sun, Nebraska Tornado, and Mirabilis.
Trainer Patrick Biancone trains Christine Daae, who came back off a six month layoff with a sharp maiden score going seven furlongs here on Jan. 15.
The ninth race is the $100,000 Very One Stakes (G3), a 1 3/8 mile turf marathon for fillies and mares, which drew a full field of 14 runners.
Belle Allure is one of two runners in here sent out by trainer Christophe Clement, who has won this race four times, most recently in 2008 with Mauralakana.
The mare was tenth last out in the Marshua River, but was only beaten three lengths for the top spot, and it was her first start off a three month layoff.
The mare has handled ground with give to it, and the extra distance should not pose a problem.
Her stablemate is Cable, who was a fast closing second in her last start in the Suwannee River (G3) going nine furlongs.
The mare did not get much pace to run at in that race, which was her first start off a three month break.
The lightly raced five year is making just her ninth career start, and she has enough pedigree to handle the distance.
She is by Dynaformer out of the Seeking the Gold mare Sterling Pound, who also produced stakes winner Exchange Rate.
Lady Shakespeare, the little sister of Grade 1 winner Shakespeare will get some attention at the windows, but she drew the 14 post.
The filly finished in a dead heat for second in her last start in the Marshua River. It was a blanket finish among the top five runners.
The fourth place finisher in the race was Lomaki, who came back to win the Endeavour Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 13.
The Tom Proctor trainee Closeout may get overlooked on the toteboard. The mare is a multiple graded stakes winner on turf and did not have a clean trip in her last start, the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita.
While it is a slow week for Derby preps, keep an eye on the early races at Gulfstream park today.
The third race on the card is a second level allowance race and drew stakes winners Homeboykris and Radiohead, and stakes placed Quick Ride and Call Shot, all four are Triple Crown nominated.
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