Friday Preview: Gulfstream Off Turf; Aussie Import Heads Tampa Bay Turf Feature

By Jim Freer

Gulfstream Park has moved all five of today’s turf-scheduled races to the dirt track that is listed as good.

First post time is 12:35 p.m. for ten races at Gulfstream, in Hallandale Beach.

There is only a ten percent chance of this afternoon rain in the Hallandale Beach area. But the wide Gulfstream turf course is soft in spots following rain, often heavy, that has fallen in South Florida on most days since late last week.

Meanwhile, Tampa Bay Downs is preparing for a nine-race card with four turf races and first post of 12:28 p.m.

The featured ninth race at the Oldsmar track is a $100,000 allowance/optional claimer at five furlongs on turf for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.

The Australian-bred Inkling is the likely favorite in the race, which has a $28,000 purse. It will be her second U.S. start, both for trainer Wesley Ward.

Inkling, a 4-year-old for U.S. racing purposes, won two of her six starts in Australia–racing mostly in stakes.

This past August, owner-breeder Peter Moran sold Inkling to U.S.-based Doug Painter in a transaction for which the price was not disclosed.

Inkling won her U.S. debut on Sept. 4 at Del Mar, at five furlongs on turf in a $62,500 optional claimer. Mario Pino will ride her this afternoon, with post time of 4:28 p.m.

RivzintheHouse (Larry Rivelli/E.T. Baird), Normandy Crossing (Joe Woodard/Pablo Morales) and Unseen (Dane Kobiskie/Manoel Cruz) are other top contenders.

We will have reports on Tampa Bay and on Gulfstream this afternoon on out blog.

Friday Preview: Gulfstream Off Turf; Aussie Import Heads Tampa Bay Turf Feature