Supporting an early favorite from an outside slip on grass from a single-digit barn is generally not a good way to begin the race week. But Lady Puchi (3-1) deserves that kind of respect in today’s fifth in Hallandale.
She’s been competitive in all her turf starts and today makes her third start off a brief layup and will be without excuse.
Two back, she moved prematurely to the lead but Antonio Sano was encouraged enough to try stakes company last out and was far from being disgraced.
Lady Puchi lost too much ground into the lane as she rallied from last then remained one-paced to the wire. Two things should enable her to make her rally last right to the wire; the drop from stakes to non-winners and the addition of Lasix, especially the latter.
Check out her last and you’ll see what we mean: Gulfstream Park, JAN 1, Race 5.
She’s more tactical than she appears and the presence of Luis Saez anticipates that she will put herself in a spot that will do the most good.
Taking Lady Puchi to win at 2-1 or greater, and quinellas with Frederica (12-1), going synth to dirt and short to long for top Canadian connections, and Lemon Red, making turf and racing debut for Chad Brown with resurgent Javier Castellano in the boot.
