BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Alters Racing Stable Inc.’s Oh Darlin will try for her second consecutive victory Friday at Gulfstream Park when the Florida-bred filly goes to the post in the featured eighth race, a second condition, $62,500 optional claiming. Seven fillies and mares, 3-years-old and older, are scheduled to race five furlongs on the synthetic course to compete for a purse of $62,000.
The purse includes a $5,000 Florida-bred win bonus presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Trained by Happy Alter, Oh Darlin has shown an affinity for the Gulfstream synthetic having finished in the top three in 10 of 12 starts there. All four of her career victories have come over the Gulfstream synthetic including a last-out victory against upper level, $50,000 optional claiming fillies and mares going five-and-a-half furlongs on June 23 defeating runner-up Choose Joy in second. Choose Joy is the 8-5 morning line favorite Friday.
That was a strong return to form for Oh Darlin, who had finished last of 10 in her two previous starts, both on the turf against $62,500 optional claiming fillies and mares at Gulfstream in March.
Oh Darlin has earned $200,380 from her four wins in 17 career starts with four seconds and three thirds. She is by Uncaptured out of Solitaire’s Vision by Court Vision and was bred in Florida by Copper Water TB Co.
Oh Darlin is a graduate of Ocala Breeders’ Sales having been purchased by Eddie Plesa for $40,000 out of the 2022 Spring Sale where she was consigned by Ocala Stud.
She is 5-2 on the morning line and will be ridden from post six by Edgard Zayas.
Florida-bred Talkin Tipsy also looks for her second consecutive win after taking a first condition, $25,000 optional claiming taken off the turf and run at five furlongs on the synthetic on June 8.
Talking Tipsy is trained by James Gulick, who co-owns the 5-year-old mare with Louis F. Stevens and Princess Kathy Racing LLC. She is by Greenpointcrusader out of Tipsy Toes, by Got the Last Laugh and was bred by the trainer.
Talkin Tipsy has five wins and four thirds in 25 lifetime starts with earnings of $226,570. She is 6-1 on the morning line and will be ridden from post one by Edgar Perez.
Choose Joy will be trying for her first win since taking an upper level, $62,500 optional claiming for fillies and mares going five furlongs on synthetic at Gulfstream on Dec. 3.
Owned and trained by Steven Dwoskin, Choose Joy also has a proven record on the Gulfstream Park all-weather course having won two with two seconds and a third in six starts. Her career ledger reflects nine wins, eight seconds and a third in 25 starts with earnings of $407,795.
Choose Joy is by Munnings out of Elegantly, by Arch and will break from post five with Miguel Vasquez aboard.
Completing the field are Music City Star with jockey Jose Morelos, Fulminate and rider Leonel Reyes and Sonny Leon rides Admissable.
