HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Thankfully has posted career-best Beyer Speed Figures in her last two starts, with both races decided over Gulfstream Park’s Tapeta course. The question is whether she can duplicate those performances when returning to turf and stepping up in company to face 10 rivals in Friday’s wide-open $86,000 allowance feature.
Thankfully earned a 74 Beyer when beaten a half-length by Greenfield Cougar making her synthetic-track debut with former trainer Gustavo Delgado on Sept. 6. Greenfield Cougar flattered the race by returning to capture each of her next two starts.
Thankfully was transferred to trainer George Weaver’s stable shortly thereafter, turning in an even stronger performance to defeat mid-level conditioned claiming company by three lengths here last month while posting an 80 Beyer. That number is far and away the highest last-out speed figure registered by any member of the field in Friday’s five-furlong sprint for fillies and mares.
“Whenever you get a new horse and run them for the first time, you’re never quite sure what they’re going to do,” Weaver said. “And, obviously, we were very pleased with her effort. She ran some very good races for Gustavo before we got her, she was a good third behind Shisospicy last year, so we already knew she had a lot of talent.”
Weaver admits Thankfully will be taking a big step up in company off her last outing, but he’s confident the switch back to turf will not be an issue.
“I know she’s jumping up in class, but if she can duplicate her last number, she should fit in here,” Weaver said. “I’m never quite sure how you compare Tapeta races to the turf, but she’s already proven she can handle the grass, so there’s no reason for me to feel there will be any problem switching surfaces for this race.”
Tyler Gaffalione rode Thankfully to her most recent victory but has opted to take the call instead aboard Sod Siren, one of two key contenders trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has entered in Friday’s race, along with The Dove Rules.
Sod Siren has been idle since a relatively easy 3 3/4-length maiden tally on the turf Oct. 31, for which she earned a career-high 72 Beyer. Sod Siren has not missed a beat in the morning prepping for her return and figures to be a major pace player, along with Moonlight Promises, Quadra, and the five-time winner Denver’s Alley.
A lively pace figures to benefit Capturing, who turns back to five furlongs off a series of longer races for trainer Todd Pletcher. She will be making just the second start of her current form cycle, having finished third after prompting the early running going 1 1/16 miles on the grass Dec. 27 in her lone outing since May 9 at Aqueduct. Capturing already has a win over the course, having graduated in her career debut going a mile a year ago.
Five G bounces back, eyes Apple Blossom
Weaver is hopeful that Thankfully will have similar success as her graded stakes-winning stablemate Five G had here last week. Five G rebounded from a disappointing effort in the Grade 1 La Brea at Santa Anita in her 3-year-old finale with a very convincing 4 1/4-length allowance tally going a flat mile.
The win was the first for the 4-year-old daughter of Vekoma since she registered a popular gate-to-wire, 2 1/4 length victory in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks last March.
“We had considered bringing her back in the Royal Delta but decided to take a little easier path,” Weaver explained. “Being able to have Johnny [Velazquez] back on her was a plus, since he knows the filly so well, and she really took him right up there to the lead from the outset. It was a big relief to see her run like that after such a head-scratcher in California, and I’m really glad to have her back where we’ve got her right now.”
Weaver said he has nothing specific picked out for Five G’s next start.
“There’s not a whole lot for her here,” Weaver said. “If she wasn’t already a Grade 2 winner and needed a graded stakes win on her résumé, it might be a different story what races we would target. But since she is, at the moment I’d say the [Grade 1] Apple Blossom [at Oaklawn Park] is the first race that comes to mind.”
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.