Hard to narrow down this one

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – There are more haves than have-nots in the lone allowance race Friday at Gulfstream Park, making for some interesting wagering strategy as a 10-race card unfolds.

Nine older horses are in the ninth race, a key link in late multi-race wagers, and bettors wanting to stay alive into the last race of the day may want to go deeper than normal on their tickets. Yourdreamsormine and Scarly Charly are among the likely favorites in a $49,000 second-level race at seven furlongs, but, oh, if it were only so simple. Conquest Big E, Deep Sea, and several others bring credentials to what shapes up as a real scramble.

First post Friday is 12:35 p.m. Eastern. The feature (post, 4:32) precedes an optional claimer (post, 5:02) that matches 12 Florida-bred fillies and mares going 7 1/2 furlongs on turf. The eight earlier races are all claiming events.

KEY CONTENDERS (RACE 9)

Yourdreamsormine, by Mr. Sekiguchi (Last 3 Beyers: 91-84-81)

◗ Rail-drawn earner of nearly $400,000 is one of three in here eligible via an optional $62,500 claiming tag, and his extensive experience over the local surface (a record of 28-7-6-4) makes him an obvious consideration.

Scarly Charly, by Friends Lake (Last 3 Beyers: 85-89-82)

◗ The top earner in the group with $426,400, this 8-year-old was third behind Greenpointcrusader for this same condition three Fridays ago and continues to hold steady form for trainer Larry Rivelli.

Deep Sea, by Mineshaft (Last 3 Beyers: 84-72-83)

◗ Trained by Mark Casse, this 5-year-old was an eye-catching maiden winner some 13 months ago at Gulfstream and shows five lively Palm Meadows works in preparing for his first start in eight months.

Something Awesome, by Awesome Again (Last 3 Beyers: 87-85-84)

◗ Favorably drawn in the outside post, this Stronach Stables homebred stands to benefit from his latest start, when he rallied to finish third in a Jan. 7 race in which Scarly Charly was second. That was his first race since Nov. 13.

Decorated Soldier, by Proud Citizen (Last 3 Beyers: 72-85-87)

◗ Winner of the Northern Spur as a 3-year-old last spring at Oaklawn Park, this Eclipse Thoroughbreds colt is returning from a nearly eightmonth layoff for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Conquest Big E, by Tapit (Last 3 Beyers: 74-76-81)

◗ Purchased out of the Conquest Stables dispersal last fall, this gray 4-year-old has been gelded and makes his first start for new connections. He is looking for his first victory since the fall of his 2-year-old year.

Jersey Blues, by Eddington (Last 3 Beyers: 82-53-79)

◗ Winner of a Monmouth Park stakes restricted to New Jersey-breds in August in his most recent start, this 6-yearold might well be gearing up for when the Jersey Shore track resumes racing in May.