Gulfstream Park: Gun Song, Just F Y I meet in Thursday feature

Gun Song came closer than any filly did in 2024 to beating Thorpedo Anna, coming within a neck in last fall’s Grade 1 Cotillion at odds of 44-1.

Although the reigning horse of the year won’t be around for Gun Song’s return to the races Thursday at Gulfstream Park, the stakes-quality optional claiming allowance is no soft spot.

Gun Song, unraced in 139 days since finishing second by a head as the favorite in Aqueduct’s Mother Goose (G2), is the 7-5 program favorite in the one-mile main track spot for older fillies and mares. Also entered is Just F Y I, the juvenile filly champion of 2023 who has not run since June. Grade 1 winner Power Squeeze is entered but will scratch, according to trainer Jorge Delgado.

“It’s definitely a tough spot,” Gun Song's trainer Mark Hennig said. “Probably not the spot any of us were looking for. But it’s a chance to get things going again.”

Gun Song, a $400,000 daughter of 2017 horse of the year and 2024 Hall of Famer Gun Runner, had three wins and four seconds from nine starts last year, also finishing behind Thorpedo Anna in the Acorn (G1). She won a one-mile optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream, the Black-Eyed Susan (G2) at Pimlico and Cathryn Sophia at Parx in her Cotillion prep.

After the Mother Goose, Gun Song was given a break and resurfaced on the work tab Jan. 8 with an easy three-furlong move at Gulfstream. She has breezed eight times over the main track for her 4-year-old debut, most recently going a half-mile in 48 seconds March 6, third-fastest of 25 horses.

“Definitely pleased with the way she’s come along. She’s made good progress,” Hennig said. “We’ve been having trouble finding a race on the calendar that really fit well, timing-wise, and this was the best one on the calendar at the distance.”

Hall of Famer John Velazquez, up for seven of her nine races last year including the Black-Eyed Susan and Cotillion, returns to ride from Post 3.

“No doubt we’re excited to get her back going,” Hennig said. “Johnny breezed her (Feb. 27), and he was really pleased with her. She’s already a big filly, but I feel like she’s grown and filled out some more since we gave her that break.”

After going undefeated during her championship season, including Grade 1 victories in the Frizette and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, Just F Y I was winless in three starts last year. She was second in the Ashland (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1), the latter to Thorpedo Anna, and sixth in the Acorn at Saratoga, two spots ahead of Gun Song.

By 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, Just F Y I has breezed nine times at Payson Park for her comeback. Junior Alvarado, her only race rider, has the return call from post 5 as the 8-5 second choice.

“She’s done well,” Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said. “We’ve got some decent works in her but she’s been away a long time, so we just need to get her started.”

Also entered are Literate, sixth last time out in the two-turn Wayward Lass Jan. 11 at Tampa Bay Downs; stakes-placed Abundancia, eighth in the Wayward Lass; and Grade 3-placed Riding Pretty, a two-time New Jersey-bred stakes winner.