Robert Masiello’s speedy turf sprinter Fiya, who became a stakes winner last time out, looks to extend his win streak to five races when he makes his South Florida debut in the $90,000 Claiming Crown Canterbury.
Maryland-bred Fiya will spend the winter with trainer Tom Albertrani’s string at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County. His two most recent wins came after being purchased at auction for $400,000 in July.
“He’s very talented. Since the first time I got him back in August, I was really impressed. I really liked the horse from Day 1, just his appearance and the way he trained,” Albertrani said. “After watching him work a few times I really thought this horse had a lot of talent, and the two times I ran him he’s certainly showed that.”
Fiya was a front-running 3 ¼-length winner against open company Sept. 20 at Belmont Park, then returned to Laurel Park where he had made his previous four starts to capture the 5 ½-furlong Maryland Million Turf Sprint over a course rated good.
“He ran really well at Belmont,the first time we ran him, and then to come back at Laurel over a deep track which he did not even favor, he still managed to get through it and won that day. I think on firmer ground he’ll be a lot more effective,” Albertrani said. “I think there is room for more. He’s still a young horse. He looks fantastic. He’s well put together and I certainly think with maturity this horse could develop to be any kind.”
Fiya has breezed twice at Palm Meadows, most recently a half-mile move in 47.75 seconds over the main track, seventh-fastest of 60 horses. Though he will be giving up seasoning to most of his rivals, Fiya has beaten his elders in each race during his streak.
“The last time he breezed I think he went in 47 and 3 and you almost have to look at your watch and make sure that you got the right time because he does do things so easy,” Albertrani said. “It’s always I guess to a disadvantage when you come into a race with a younger horse but I just think with his performances you have to think he might be the horse to beat in here, really. I’m pretty confident just being around the horse and watching his last couple of races.”
Michael Hui, Hooties Racing and WSS Racing’s Tiger Blood represents the other side of the spectrum, having made 50 starts with 19 wins, nine seconds, two thirds and $514,152 in purse earnings. From the barn of Mike Maker, who leads all Claiming Crown trainers with 17 wins, the 7-year-old gelding exits a sixth in the Jim McKay Turf Sprint Oct. 1 at Pimlico Race Course.
Completing the field are Belgrano, last out winner of the 5 ½-furlong Virgil ‘Buddy’ Raines Stakes Oct. 3 at Monmouth; Citrus Burst, third in the Bears Den Sept. 5 at Gulfstream; Harry’s Ontheloose, Fully Loaded, Legendary Prince, Like What I See, Lusitano, Memorable, Munn Passage and Unmoored. Fair Catch and Kobe Fifty Two are also-eligibles.
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Thinkin Cowtown Returns for Title Defense in $90,000 Distaff Dash
A rallying half-length winner as the favorite last year, Averill Racing, Matties Racing Stable and ATM Racing’s 7-year-old mare Thinkin Cowtown returns to defend her title in the $90,000 Claiming Crown Distaff Dash.
Thinkin Cowtown has raced just three times since her half-length triumph over Unaquoi last December, and just once in the past nine months. Trained by Georgina Baxter, she pressed the pace into the stretch but wound up third by a length Sept. 6 in a five-furlong optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream.
Precocious Peach exits the same race as Thinkin Cowtown, beating her by a neck for second, while 2019 Distaff Dash runner-up Unaquoi will be seeking her first Gulfstream win, having gone winless with two seconds in five previous tries.
Three Diamonds Farms’ Jakarta won an off-the-turf edition of the one-mile Powder Break May 16 at Gulfstream. After finishing off the board in a pair of graded-stakes attempts including one on the dirt, the Bustin Stones mare ran second in the Caress, won a 6 ½-furlong starter at Kentucky Downs and most recently was third by a length in the Buffalo Trace Franklin County (G3) Oct. 9 at Keeneland.
Cat’s Astray, a winner of two straight; Dahlonega, Katieleigh, Midtown Rose, My Sarasota Star, Sweet Yare N Dira, Sweetsweetsweet and The Great Kath are also entered. Kiffle is entered for main track only.
