HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. John Minchello’s Competitive Speed and Shea D Boys Stables’ Shea D Summer are set to clash in Saturday’s $60,000 Hallandale Beach, a seven-furlong overnight handicap for 3-year-old fillies, at Gulfstream Park.
Javier Gonzalez-trained Competitive Speed finished second behind Shea D Summer in the Game Face last time out in her first start since finishing off the board in the Kentucky Oaks, in which she fell out of contention after experiencing bumping while breaking from the No. 13 post.
“I was very happy with her effort. She showed she had a lot of heart,” Gonzalez said. “I was happy with her race after what happened to her in the Oaks.”
Competitive Speed had earned her way into the Oaks field by third in both the Davona Dale (G2) and Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) during Gulfstream’s Championship Meet. The daughter of Competitive Edge’s prior three career wins were accomplished at sprint distances.
Competitive Speed broke slowly from her rail post position in the 6 ½-furlong Game Face before making a wide rally to finish second, 2 ½ lengths behind front-running Shea D Summer.
Carlos David-trained Shea D Summer’s triumph was her first of the year and her first since capturing her first two lifetime races at Gulfstream Park West, including the Juvenile Filly Sprint for Florida-breds.
Leonel Reyes has the return mount aboard Competitive Speed, while Emisael Jaramillo will once again guide Shea D Summer.
Legacy Racing LLC’s Coach Jer’s Joy will be seeking to rebound from a disappointing sixth in the Game Face, which came on the heels for a solid optional claiming allowance score at seven-furlongs.
“She’s been one race good and one race bad. She’s hard to figure out,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “In the Forward Gal [fifth-place finish], she had a sneaky good race behind Zaajel, who came back the other day to win the Mother Goose. I think it was her best race to date and if she were to come back and run something like that, she’d have a good chance.”
Trainer Daniel Pita’s Princess Secret, who is winless in three starts since winning the $400,000 My Dear Girl for Florida-breds in September, will return to racing against fillies in the Hallandale Beach after finishing an even fourth behind highly regarded Collaborate in an optional claiming allowance against the boys.
Karl Glassman and Debbi Glassman’s Restofthestory, Prostar 10 Stables Inc.’s Appointed, Crossed Sabres Farm LLC’s Single Lady, and Kadima’s Emunah round out the field.
Gulfstream Park Press Release
Photo: Competitive Speed (Lauren King)
