Gemswick Park and Frolic’s Dream, separated by two noses when they finished first and third, respectively, in the six-furlong Old Hat Stakes (gr. III)) on Jan. 4, return to Gulfstream Park Jan. 30 as the two likely favorites in the Forward Gal Stakes (gr. II).
Seven 3-year-old fillies are entered in the seven-furlong Forward Gal.
Jockey John R. Velazquez once again has the mount on the Melnyk Racing Stable homebred Gemswick Park after the chestnut daughter of Melnyk’s Eclipse champion sprinter Speightstown held on with determination to defeat Elusive Heat and Frolic’s Dream in the Old Hat. Gemswick Park, who used her speed to best advantage when she started on the far outside in the Old Hat, drew the rail this time around.
Gemswick Park, trained by Tom Albertani, finished third in the Frizette Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park and second in the Tempted (gr. II) at Aqueduct in her last two starts as a 2-year-old.
Regular partner Jermaine Bridgmohan will be back aboard Dare To Dream Stable’s Frolic’s Dream, who leaves from post 5 for trainer Marty Wolfson. The roan/gray homebred daughter of Smoke Glacken suffered her first defeat after winning all three starts last year at Calder, including a 12 3/4-length romp in the Cassidy Stakes.
Certain to attract attention will be William Pacella’s C.S. Silk with jockey Robby Albarado in town to ride for trainer Dale Romans. The daughter of Medaglia d'Oro makes her first start since a good runner-up effort in the Delta Princess Stakes (gr. III) at Delta Downs on Dec. 5. She scored her biggest victory in the Arlington-Washington Lassie (gr. III) in early September. that was followed by a seventh-place finish in the Breeders' cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I).
Completing the field for the Forward Gal are Richard Rowan’s Renda, Edgar Prado; New Life Racing’s Hopeful Image, Herb McCauley; Derby Lane Farm’s Dr. Zic, Jose Lezcano; and Zayat Stable’s Heart Ashley, Julien Leparoux.
$150,000 Forward Gal Stakes (gr. II, Race 6, 3:42 p.m.), 3-Year-Old Fillies, 7 Furlongs
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, ML Odds
1. Gemswick Park (KY), John R. Velazquez, 120, 5/2
2. Renda (KY), Edgar S. Prado, 120, 8/1
3. C. S. Silk (KY), Robby Albarado, 120, 4/1
4. Hopeful Image (KY), Herb McCauley, 116, 15/1
5. Frolic's Dream (FL), Jermaine V. Bridgmohan, 120, 2/1
6. Dr. Zic (KY), Jose Lezcano, 120, 6/1
7. Heart Ashley (KY), Julien R. Leparoux, 114, 6/1
