Pletcher pair tough in allowance sprint

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainers who frequently run horses in the maiden and allowance ranks at Gulfstream Park during the winter must feel like an NFL coach having to face the New England Patriots almost every game.

Todd Pletcher, the leading trainer at the last 14 championship meetings here, is the Gulfstream equivalent to Bill Belichick, and hence the dread felt by his fellow horsemen when the overnight comes out with a couple of live Pletcher horses opposing them.

That situation arises again Friday in the featured race, a $52,000 second-level allowance at six furlongs. Pletcher will send forth the uncoupled duo of Nonna Bella and Spice Lady, both of whom look entirely capable of dominance amid a field of eight fillies and mares.

Nonna Bella, a Repole Stable homebred, will be making her first start since a troubled trip in the Miss Preakness at Pimlico in May sent her to the sidelines. The 4-year-old filly began her career here last winter with back-to-back wins and likely will come favored despite that layoff. She will be ridden by John Velazquez from post 1.

Spice Lady, also owned by Repole, was a 5 1/2-length winner of a first-level allowance here last month and surely will take her share of action. She breaks from post 4 under Chris DeCarlo.

Two higher-level races with hybrid conditions (races 6 and 10) also are part of a Friday card that starts at 12:35 p.m. Eastern. The 20-cent Rainbow 6, which runs from races 5-10, had nearly $2.3 million in its rollover jackpot when a five-day race week began Wednesday. A mandatory dispersal date of the Rainbow 6 pool has been set for Jan. 28.

KEY CONTENDERS

Nonna Bella, by Stay Thirsty Last 3 Beyers: 67-79-79

◗ Two works at Crupi’s New Castle Farm in Ocala, Fla., followed by eight more at Pletcher’s winter base at Palm Beach Downs are the foundation for a comeback attempt being used as a springboard to more important events.

Spice Lady, by Speightstown Last 3 Beyers: 84-76-71

◗ The ease with which she earned that field-high 84 Beyer Speed Figure in her latest is an obvious indicator of her chances in this spot.

Heartspoke, by Arch Last 3 Beyers: 75-65-71

◗ Irad Ortiz Jr. gets the call on the Larry Rivelli-trained filly, who is entered off back-to-back wins against considerably easier.

Miss Kentucky, by Blame Last 3 Beyers: 61-81-73

◗ Javier Castellano takes over on this filly, who looked terrific in an allowance score two starts back at Keeneland for Rusty Arnold.