A field of eight fillies was entered for Saturday's $100,000 Three Ring Stakes at Calder, a 1 1/16-mile test for 2-year-old fillies.
Trainer Nick Zito sends out a solid contender in Marylou Whitney's Bird Town, a lightly-raced daughter of freshman sire Cape Town, with Eibar Coa in the saddle.
The Kentucky homebred finished second in her debut sprinting at Keeneland and then romped by nearly seven lengths in a two-turn maiden special at Churchill Downs. In her lone start since at Churchill she finished a fast-closing second after a bad start in an allowance as the 2-to-5 favorite under Pat Day.
Two other fillies in the field also will be making their South Florida debuts – Edward Marshall's Bolaro, with Rene Douglas aboard, and Michael Gill's Makin Heat, to be ridden by Gary Boulanger.
Makin Heat was a supplementary entry Thursday morning with Steve Margolis listed as trainer. The daughter of Makin could end up favored after her impressive victory in the $100,000 Selima Stakes going 1 1/16 miles at Laurel Park last out on Nov. 16.
Makin Heat was based in Maryland with trainer Jerry Robb and had won the six-furlong Hildene Stakes at Delaware Park in her previous start. Makin Heat was claimed for $35,000 at Pimlico on Sept. 4 when she broke her maiden by 14 lengths in her first start around two turns.
Bolaro has shipped into Gulfstream from Ohio for trainer Alan Sobol after winning the restricted Best of Ohio Juvenile Fillies last out at 1 1/16 miles at Thistledown in her first start around two turns. The homebred daughter of Sandpit had finished an even fifth in the Arlington-Washington Lassie (gr. III) at Arlington Park in her previous start going a one-turn mile.
Lady Stars has won four of five starts, all sprinting, with her only loss a second to Puxa Saco in early September before that one shipped west to win two stakes in California. The daughter of Lord Carson has won both of her starts since being claimed by trainer Steve Towne for $40,000 on Sept. 30.
$100,000 Three Ring Stakes (Race 10), 2-year-old fillies, 1 1/16 milePP Horse, Weight, Jockey
1 Never Fail (FL), 111, Cornelio H. Velasquez
2 Bird Town (KY), 117, Eibar Coa
3 Lady Stars (KY), 111, Carlos Gonzalez
4 Makin Heat (VA), 120, Gary Boulanger
5 Kathy Lee G. (FL), 111, Manuel Aguilar
6 Dakota Light (FL), 111, Julio A. Garcia
7 Bolaro (OH), 120, Rene R. Douglas
8 Nonour (FL), 115, Roger I. Velez
