Molta Vita Returns in Hurricane Bertie

Molta Vita, making her first start in six months, carries trainer Dallas Stewart's hopes in Sunday's $100,000 Hurricane Bertie Handicap (gr. III) for fillies and mares at Gulfstream Park.

The 6 1/2-furlong event drew a field of six. Molta Vita is the high weight at 118 pounds and will be ridden by Jerry Bailey for Stewart, who shipped Molta Vita from his New Orleans base.

Molta Vita's last start was a winning effort in the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (gr. III) at Keeneland Oct. 17. That win wrapped a 2004 campaign that included a win in the Ellis Park Breeders' Cup Handicap and a second-place finish behind Lady Tak in the Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park.

Bohemian Lady, whose 3-year-old campaign began encouragingly with a win in the Cicada Stakes (gr. III) a year ago but ended prematurely in a slump, returned from a seven-month absence to finish second to Hurricane Bertie rival Forty Moves in an optional claiming event at Gulfstream Jan. 28.

Lilah, an 8-year-old Kentucky-bred mare trained by Allen Jerkens, has won back-to-back races.

$100,000 Hurricane Bertie Handicap (gr. III), fillies & mares 3 & up, 6 1/2 furlongs
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Brunilda (ARG), 114, Edgar S. Prado
2. Forty Moves (KY), 114, Eibar Coa
3. Molto Vita (KY), 118, Jerry D. Bailey
4. Lilah (KY), 114, Rajiv Maragh
5. Bohemian Lady (KY), 114, John R. Velazquez
6. Expect an Angel (FL), 113, Aurelio Toribio, Jr.