Florida-breds shine at Gulfstream on Saturday with a pair of stakes features. The Sunshine Filly & Mare Turf hits mid-card at a mile on grass, while the Sunshine Classic – which will be our Xpressbet Race of the Week analysis later in the week – anchors in Race 10.
Let’s meet the contenders for Saturday’s Sunshine F&M Turf (Race 5):
#1-LOVE MAMI LOVE: Former claimer has won 2 straight while in peak form for Saffie Joseph Jr. Her turf mile record is impeccable at 7: 3-3-1, including wins in 3 of her last 4 such Gulfstream efforts at the trip dating back to July. This will be her first stakes bid.
#2-MARYQUITECONTRARY (pictured): Spent a few years atop the local dirt sprint ranks among the distaffers, but this 6-year-old First Dude mare gets her first start on turf. She finished a good second on the Tapeta in November when trying that surface for the first time. Late-running sprinter has lost 8 straight over the past 13 months, but has a class edge for trainer Eddie Plesa.
#3-PRINCESS BETTINA: Owner Don Dizney moved this mare from Peter Eurton in California to winter with Brian Lynch in Florida. She’s trying to get back to her 2023 form when she won the China Doll at Santa Anita and was third on the road in the Penn Oaks at Penn National. Her last 3 have not gone to script, including a poor allowance try in her unveiling for Lynch. John Velazquez rides, a plus.
#4-BEACH READY: Second Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee in the lineup should show plenty of early pace. Has made the lead at some point in 4 of her last 6 starts, winning once. Drayden Van Dyke has struggled at the current Championship Meet, but notably is a 23% winner with this barn over the past year. This will be her first staked bid in her 21st career start.
#5-PARALLEL: Although it took 9 tries to break her maiden, she’s won 2 of her last 5 and exits a solid third-place allowance finish behind return rival Ashima on December 12. Bargain $14,000 purchase has earned nearly 10 times that and makes her first stakes appearance. Luis Saez takes over for regular rider Edgard Zayas, who opts for Maryquitecontrary.
#6-ASHIMA: Rapidly improving filly has won 3 straight on the Tapeta surface, including twice when haltered for just the $8,000 claiming level. She’s 0-for-3 on turf but has been competitive in prior grass starts. Salvatore Santoro protected her in an optional claimer last out as the fourth conditioner to care for her in the past 13 months. Emisael Jaramillo has been aboard in her last 3 wins and returns.
#7-MY SUNNY VALENTINE: Not to be outdone by Ashima’s 3 straight wins, this 7-year-old mare has won 4 in a row since late September, all on the Tapeta at Woodbine. Lightly raced for her age, but an impeccable 15-for-25 in the exacta. She was second here in March over the Gulfstream turf, but is winless in 7 grass tries overall. Javier Castellano rides for William Tharrenos.
#8-GREAT VENEZUELA: Also riding high on a 4-race winning streak is this 4-year-old who boasts a gawdy 8: 6-1-1 lifetime record. This will be the third turf attempt for the Victor Barboza trainee, who was first and third in her prior lawn bids. Regular rider Leonel Reyes will be aboard as she makes a return to the stakes ranks; Great Venezuela was third last December in the Wait a While vs. open company over this course. Distance will be the hurdle for the stellar sprinter.
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