Friday's Gulfstream card marks the return of a couple of high-profile stakes horses. Plus a 2016 sales topper makes his belated debut and a group of promising debut-winning fillies square off at Santa Anita.
3rd-GP, $53,000, OC 75k, 4yo/up, 7f, post time: 1:05 p.m. ET
MIND YOUR BISCUITS (Posse) is one of a pair of accomplished runners making their seasonal debuts in this spot. The Eclipse Award finalist for champion sprinter of 2017 scored in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen and GII Belmont Sprint Championship last season, and was last seen finishing second in Aqueduct's GI Cigar Mile H. Dec. 2. The 5-year-old has been firing bullets at Palm Meadows while his likely main rival One Liner (Into Mischief) has been doing the same at Palm Beach Downs. That Todd Pletcher pupil is unbeaten in three starts thus far, but has been on the sidelines since a clear-cut success in Oaklawn's GIII Southwest S. some 50 weeks ago. TJCIS PPs
4th-OP, $75,000, Msw, 3yo/up, 6f, post time: 3:52 p.m. ET
SOUTH BEACH (Tapit), the $1.8-million topper of the 2016 Fasig-Tipton Florida sale, makes his belated debut here at age four. Out of a half-sister to Hard Spun, the $1.2-million KEESEP RNA has been working since the beginning of the year at Sam Houston. TJCIS PPs
8th-SA, $56,000, OC 75k, 3yo, f, 6 1/2f, post time: 7:30 p.m. ET
As many as four debut winners will take on four other fillies with stakes form in a very salty optional claiming event at “The Great Race Place.” Godolphin homebred EMBOLDENED (Elusive Quality), a granddaughter of champion 3-year-old filly Ajina (Strawberry Road {Aus}), garnered the 'TDN Rising Star' distinction for a front-running local tally at odds of 1-2 Jan. 5. She hails from the extended female family of red-hot Quality Road, who sired Michael Talla homebred Highland Lass. The latter opened her account successfully at Los Alamitos Dec. 1. Ms Dupree (Violence), meanwhile, counts champion 3-year-old filly Proud Spell (Proud Citizen) and GISW J P's Gusto (Successful Appeal) in her family tree. The $80,000 KEENOV weanling donned cap and gown in a restricted special weight Jan. 11. Ahimsa (Animal Kingdom) earned the best Beyer Speed Figure (82) in the field when she led box to wire at Los Al Dec. 15. TJCIS PPs
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