The strategy will be simple with Okay Fine when she breaks from the rail in Sunday’s featured ninth race at Gulfstream Park.
“She goes to the lead,” said trainer Carlos David. “That’s the plan.”
The first-level allowance for fillies and mares will be run over 1 1/16 miles on turf. It has a $25,000 claiming option.
The race drew 10, including Towser, the runner-up in the $75,000 Monroe when last seen on turf at Gulfstream, and Burnaway, who moves into open company off a first-level allowance win over Florida-breds.
Okay Fine raced with the pace in her last start going a mile, when she was second by a half-length at this same level Aug. 10. She put up a career-best 76 Beyer Speed Figure.
“I won a starter with her the race before,” David said. “I think she’s in a good spot in the allowance. Last time, the same [kind of] race, she ran second behind my other filly, who got claimed out of that race.”
No Valla, the winner over Okay Fine, was picking up the ninth victory of her career. All of those wins have come on turf, while Okay Fine is looking for her first win on the grass after running second on the surface three times from six starts. Okay Fine’s three career wins have come on Tapeta.
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The daughter of Empire Maker races for Sergio Rivera Celis. She will be ridden by Emisael Jaramillo.
Okay Fine does not appear to be facing much opposing speed, although Roscoe Village could be prominent on the stretch-out from five furlongs and Le Beau could apply some pressure from post 2. Le Beau will add blinkers for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.
Okay Fine finished in front of Le Beau last time, when that one ran fourth Aug. 10. Sals Dream Girl, a closer, was third in the same race while Double Cosmo Girl finished seventh.
Towser will be back on Lasix after racing without the diuretic in both the Monroe and the $75,000 Powder Break. She owns the field’s best last-race turf Beyer, an 89.
Lady Cha Cha also will race on Lasix again after racing without it in the $75,000 Miss Gracie in her most recent out Aug. 3. She was fifth in the race for 3-year-olds and before that won back-to-back starts over older rivals on turf.
Beth’s Dream works
Beth’s Dream, who has won all four of her starts this year, breezed Friday at Gulfstream as she continues preparations for the Grade 3, $220,000 Princess Rooney on Sept. 21.
Beth’s Dream went a half-mile in 50.51 seconds over a track rated fast.
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Trainer Victor Barboza Jr. said earlier this week the mare continues to be pointed for the Princess Rooney, a seven-furlong race for fillies and mares that serves as a Win and You’re In qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
Beth’s Dream won over seven furlongs last out in the Sheer Drama at Gulfstream. Prior to the start, she won three consecutive races at a mile. She is 9 for 16 with earnings of $449,167 for Virginia Gamble.
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