Andrea will be a strong favorite Saturday when she gets her first distance test in the $95,000 Hallandale Beach, a mile race for 2-year-old fillies at Gulfstream Park. The field of 10 includes Whatintheliteral, winner of the Astoria in June at Saratoga.
But most of the focus will be on Andrea, who has a distinct Beyer Speed Figure edge. The 74 she earned in her 6 1/2-length debut win last out is 14 to 63 points higher than each of the last-race Beyers put up by her competition. Andrea will be stretching out from 5 1/2 furlongs.
“I don’t think a one-turn mile should be a problem for her, but you have to see it be done first,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “I do usually like going a little shorter stepping-stone, but it’s a stakes and it’s on the calendar and it kind of fit the spot where we wanted to run back.
“The mile, obviously, she’s never gone that far, it’s a question mark, but she won nicely first time and we feel like she should stretch out.”
Andrea is by Thousand Words, who was a multiple graded stakes winner at two turns. Her unraced dam, Photoplay, is by two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Tiznow.
“On the pedigree, the dam’s side, there’s a lot of stamina,” Joseph said. “Actually, stamina on the grass.”
Photoplay’s second dam produced Film Maker, a Grade 1 winner on turf who earned $2.2 million.
Andrea broke on top in her debut and led throughout under Emisael Jaramillo, who again has the mount. The pair will break from post 5.
“As far as rationing her speed, she’s very easy in that sense,” Joseph said. “She listens to the rider, which is a good attribute to help you get distance.”
Andrea is owned by C2 Racing, Kuehne Racing, and Mark Corrado.
There are three horses in the field who have won at two turns. Miss Mary Nell and Souper Zonda are both coming off maiden special weight wins at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf at Gulfstream. Del Rosario was a maiden winner at a mile and 70 yards on Tapeta.
Souper Zonda won her debut and now moves to dirt. She is bred for success on the surface as a daughter of Curlin and the stakes-winning Scat Daddy mare Zonda. Edwin Gonzalez has the mount from post 7 for trainer Mark Casse.
Whatintheliteral can make a real impact if she recaptures her Astoria form. She won the race wire to wire and earned a strong Beyer Speed Figure of 69. Whatintheliteral enters the Hallandale Beach off a seventh-place finish in the Grade 2 Adirondack at Saratoga.
Mom’s Martini was a debut winner over five furlongs Aug. 9 at Gulfstream. She stalked the pace and rallied in the slop. The effort earned her a Beyer of 55.
Miguel Vasquez has the mount from post 8 for trainer Carlos David. David also trains Miss Mary Nell.