Pay Any Price a formidable favorite

Pay Any Price is going to be a very short price when he runs Friday in a five-furlong, $16,000 starter optional $25,000 claiming race on turf at Gulfstream Park.

After all, he set a track record for the distance in the $75,000 Silks Run in his last start on March 11, and any of his last three races for trainer Ralph Ziadie would be good enough to beat the other eight horses entered for turf in Friday’s eighth race. Blings Express will start only if the race gets moved to the main track.

With Edgard Zayas aboard, Pay Any Price set wicked fractions in the Silks Run. He held a small advantage over Moonwalker, who faded to finish last, after a quarter-mile in 20.63 seconds. Pay Any Price held a clear lead over Power Alert after a halfmile in 42.39. He never stopped running, and his final time of 53:61 eclipsed Starfish Bay’s 2010 record of 53.75. His winning margin over the heavily favored Power Alert was 3 1/2 lengths.

The Australian-bred Power Alert, who won the Gulfstream Turf Sprint on Jan. 28, is a graded stakes winner with $632,631 in earnings. None of Pay Any Price’s rivals Friday has those credentials.

Pay Any Price, who finished a close fourth in the Gulfstream Turf Sprint, drew post 4. He is eligible for the race after running for claiming tags of $8,000 and $10,000 last spring. Unless he takes a Flubber-like bounce, he

will be tough to run down.

Starship Thor is also a sharp horse with three straight wins for trainer Jane Cibelli. In his latest win, he beat Blings Express in a $16,000 optionalclaiming race going five furlongs on turf March 8.

RACE 8 KEY CONTENDERS

Pay Any Price, by Wildcat Heir Last 3 Beyers: 106-99-96

◗ His last three Beyer Speed Figures stand out, he’s dropping in class, and he should be gone if he breaks alertly with Zayas retaining the mount.

Starship Thor, by Cowboy Cat Last 3 Beyers: 83-84-83

◗ He is on top of his game and is capable of stalking what is going to be a fast pace. With some of the speed likely backing up, he could get up in time to round out the exacta.

Starship Wildcat, by Wildcat Heir Last 3 Beyers: 87-86-77

◗ The 8-year-old gelding took them all the way in his last two starts going five furlongs on turf in a $16,000 claimer March 10 and a $25,000 optional-claiming race March 26. Trained by Ruben Gracida, he doesn’t need to lead to run a good race, however, and could get a nice trip with a patient ride.