Centrique One to Beat in Inside Information
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One of three from trainer Marty Wolfson's barn, Centrique appears to be the one to beat in an evenly matched renewal of the $200,000 Inside Information Stakes (gr. II) March 22 at Gulfstream Park.
Miller Racing's 5-year-old Malibu Moon mare will be joined by stablemates My Pal Chrisy and Heart Stealer in the Inside Information. The seven-furlong test of older fillies and mares, which attracted a field of seven, is race 10 on the Saturday card with a 5:36 p.m. EDT scheduled post.
Virignia-bred Centrique has developed into a sold stakes performer for Wolfson since being purchased privately a year ago. During the current meet, she has won the Claiming Crown Glass Slipper as well as a salty allowance heat at one mile on a sloppy track. In her most recent try, Wolfson shipped her to Laurel Park, where she ran third after being fanned five wide as the 9-5 favorite in the Barbara Fritchie Handicap (gr. II) Feb. 22.
"That was when they had that storm up there and she couldn't train for eight days," Wolfson explained. "She likes Gulfstream and Javier (Castellano) will ride her."
Castellano was aboard Centrique for her past two Gulfstream wins, and the bay mare has won three of her four starts over the track.
Heart Stealer, Peachtree Stable's 4-year-old daughter of Speightstown , captured Gulfstream's Sugar Swirl Stakes (gr. III) by a neck Dec. 14. But she never got into gear while a distant fifth in the final appearance by two-time champion Groupie Doll in the Feb. 9 Hurricane Bertie (gr. III).
Wolfson is optimistic that Heart Stealer will give a true account of herself in the Inside Information.
"I expected a lot more from her last time," Wolfson admitted. "I think she's working now like the way she did up to the Sugar Swirl and acting the same way, too. She really was not herself in that race against Groupie Doll."
Heart Stealer was partnered by Castellano in her last two appearances, but will have the services of jockey Joel Rosario when she breaks from the 6 hole on Saturday.
Wolfson's threesome is completed by the consistent My Pal Chrisy, who has hit the board in each of her past 10 starts, winning three of them. The 6-year-old is coming off a hard-charging second in the Awesome Feather at Gulfstream Feb. 6 for owner Miller Racing. Drawn in post 2, the Florida-bred mare will be ridden by Julien Leparoux for the first time.
"She's got the right rider on her in Leparoux and he should fit her good," Wolfson said. "If it's a fast pace, she could be last in the first part of it. That's her best race."
West Point Thoroughbreds' grade I-placed Toasting is drawn outside in post 7 for trainer Tom Albertrani. The 4-year-old daughter of Congrats is making a quick turn-around following a rallying win in a strong Florida-bred allowance at Gulfstream March 8.
Toasting, to be ridden by Dylan Davis, missed by a head in the Comely Stakes (gr. III) going a 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct Racetrack Nov. 30 and is seeking her first graded stakes win. She was third in the Frizette Stakes (gr. I) in 2012.
"Her last two wins have come going seven-eighths," Albertrani said. "Maybe it's a coincidence, but she really nailed it the other day. She came with a strong finish, so we're hoping for the same thing."
Trainer Todd Pletcher, whose last win in the Inside Information came in 2011 when Hilda's Passion set a track record of 1:20.45, is represented by Zia Zia Zia in her graded stakes debut. Previously in the California barn of Mike Puype, the 4-year-old Dehere filly won her most recent start, a gate-to-wire tally against allowance foes on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita Park Jan. 31.
Five Star Momma and Wildcat Lily, second and third, respectively, in the Hurricane Bertie last time, complete the field.
$200,000 Inside Information Stakes (gr. II, Race 10, 5:36 p.m.), Fillies & Mares 4 & Up, 7 Furlongs
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Five Star Momma (KY), A Jaen, 121, J M Antonucci
2. My Pal Chrisy (FL), J R Leparoux, 119, M D Wolfson
3. Centrique (VA), J Castellano, 119, M D Wolfson
4. Wildcat Lily (FL), J Lezcano, 117, M J Azpurua
5. Zia Zia Zia (KY), J Bravo, 117, T A Pletcher
6. Heart Stealer (KY), J Rosario, 119, M D Wolfson
7. Toasting (FL), D Davis, 117, T Albertrani