The most interesting affair to begin Holy Bull week at Gulfstream Park is a gateful of maiden-allowances three-year-old fillies going 1-1/16th miles on turf and an open fourth race it is on paper.
Several have run and run well and several other notables are making debuts for barns that are distance specialists and very grass savvy.
Alas we narrowed it down to one, Queen Macha (9-2) making a surface, rider switch and getting first-Lasix for trainer Jose D’Angelo, batting 21% at the meet against many of the game’s best horsemen. We like the way D’Angelo is bringing this one up to the race.
After making a promising turf and race debut here going 7-1/2 furlongs in September, he’s run his gray filly three times on the Tapeta. If that’s not enough to build condition for her return to grass, I don’t know what else could.
Long striding filly made a strong turn move and sustained it for place but there was no catching the loose leader on the day. In addition to Lasix, the presence of Irad Ortiz Jr. should ensure a strong late run. She’ll need to be at her best to handle today’s lineup, a potentially tougher one than she met on debut.
Check out her run and see what you think: Gulfstream Park, SEP 10, Race 5.
We’re taking Queen Macha to win at 3-1 or greater.
Also, we’re key-boxing in multiples with logical favorite Al Qahira (8-5) for Team Mott/Alvarado, better posted and also getting Lasix; price shot Royal Blush (15-1) who should improve in her new blinkers, and Graham Motion newcomer Spendarella (12-1), whose two winning sibs both won on grass.
