By Monique Welch
First post is 1:15 p.m. for Wednesday’s eight-race card at the Gulfstream Park West meet.
The dirt track is listed as fast and the turf is listed as firm for the races at Calder in Miami Gardens.
The Weather Channel is calling for a cloudy day with some wind developing during the afternoon and a 20 percent chance of a rain shower.
For updated information during the afternoon, be sure to refer to our blog.
All eyes are going to be on the fifth race, which will be at six furlongs on dirt for two-year-old fillies. Oh Kandrita, India Mantuana and Savanna’s Smile are among horses to watch.
The purse is $28,000 and there is an optional claiming price $35,000. Scheduled post is 3:21 p.m.
Each of the eight starters has one win, either at GP West or at Gulfstream Park, and they appear to be evenly matched.
The race offers a chance for those horses to “break out” and perhaps move to higher levels of competition.
Oh Kandrita, trained by Kathleen O’Connell is the 3-1 morning line favorite.
Trainer Kathleen O’Connell
She won her debut at 51/2 furlongs on dirt at Gulfstream on Aug. 11 and finished second at five furlongs on turf at Gulfstream on Sept. 2. Tyler Gaffalione rode her in both races and has the return mount.
India Mantuana has the most experience in this field. She has raced five times with one win, one second place finish and one third place finish.
Leonel Reyes will ride India Mantuana for trainer Antonio Sano, who leads the GP West meet in wins with eight through thirteen days. O’Connell is second with six wins.
Savanna’s Smile has a win and a second-place finish among her four starts. She likely will be coming from behind in a race where Oh Kandrita and several other horses have shown early speed.
The speedster R Incredible Life is the only horse eligible to be claimed.
She won her first start, at Gulfstream on July 7, and was the 2-1 favorite in the six-furlong Desert Vixen Stakes at Gulfstream on Aug. 6. She was bumped at the start, and wound up 11th in the 12-horse field.
Lane Luzzi will ride R Incredible Life for trainer Ralph Ziadie.
The bottom line is do not underestimate any of these horses as each has something to prove this early in her journey..
The carryover on the Rainbow 6 is $16,423 on races three through eight.
