E. Paul Robsham Stable’s 3-year-old filly R Heat Lightning drilled a bullet half-mile in :47 3/4 at Gulfstream Park March 27 for her role as the likely favorite in the April 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks (gr. II).
Trained by Todd Pletcher, The homebred daughter of Trippi ranked among the nation’s leading 2-year-old fillies last season, winning the Spinaway (gr. I) and placing in three other stakes, including the Frizette and Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (both gr. I).
R Heat Lightning’s stellar efforts as a juvenile signaled her readiness to be a division leader this year, and she continued her winning ways with a decisive 7 1/4-length victory in the Davona Dale (gr. II) at Gulfstream.
Another candidate for the Gulfstream Oaks that was prominent on the work tab at Calder Race Course the morning of March 27 was Half Hollow Stable’s Beso Grande. The filly worked five furlongs in 1:02 3/5 for trainer Steve DiMauro. The daughter of Mass Media won a one-mile allowance over the Gulfstream track Feb. 17 in her first start since finishing second in theJoe O’Farrell Juvenile Fillies at Calder last November.
Also working at Calder Sunday morning for a Gulfstream stakes next weekend was Harold Queen’s 3-year-old Little Drama, who went five-eighths in 1:03 for trainer David Fawkes. The son of Burning Roma finished third last out in the Hutcheson Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Feb. 26 in his first start since last October and is expected to contest the April 3 Swale Stakes (gr. II).