HORSE RACING

• She Be Wild has tame 2010 return

  
  

  By Don Agriss, Horse Racing Editor Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Champion filly She Be Wild got off to a less than auspicious start to her three-year-old campaign on Sunday. Racing on a dirt track for the first time in her career, the 2009 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner finished fifth in the $150,000 Forward Gal Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

  "She took to the dirt well and I got a good trip," said her jockey Julien Leparoux, "but the distance was too short for her." She be Wild, trained by Wayne Catalano, was running fifth for much of the race.

  The filly, sent off as the 7-5 favorite in the 11 horse field, found herself three wide around the turn for home and was unable to contend for the lead.

  The seven-furlong race was won by Bickersons, whose last four starts had been on synthetic tracks in California. Bickersons was 10th behind She Be Wild in the Breeders' Cup.

  "We took her all over last year, to California, and ran in the big races," trainer Kelly Breen said. "I think we found out that she could do well around two turns in the right company, but not necessarily against the best. Seven- eighths is probably her best game and maybe she can go a one-turn mile." When is a stakes race not a stakes race? When it's an optional allowance race at Gulfstream Park on Wednesday.

  Wednesday's third race at Gulfstream has a stakes quality field of seven older horses set to go a mile. Included among the seven thoroughbreds are 2007 MeadowlandsCupwinner Diamond Stripes, 2008 Brooklyn Handicap champ Delosvientos, 2008 Meadowlands Cup winner Arson Squad and 2009 Pan American Stakes champ Buddy's Humor.

  Veteran runner Grasshopper will be going for his first win in nearly two years.

  His lone victory during the last two years was the Mineshaft Handicap at the Fair Grounds on February 9, 2008.

  Rick Dutrow trains Diamond Stripes who will be making his first start since winning the $1 million Godolphin Mile in March of 2008. Dutrow also has 2-1 favorite Arson Squad who had just three starts in 2009. Diamond Stripes is the 3-1 second choice in the program.

  Less than two weeks after being named 2009 Horse of the Year, Rachel Alexandra had her first official workout of the year Sunday morning at the Fair Grounds. The four-year-old filly breezed four-furlongs in 52-seconds with regular exercise rider Dominic Terry in the saddle.

  "It was a perfect work," assistant trainer Scott Blasi said. "We're not out to impress anybody at this point. I'm happy with how manageable she is, how happy she is being out there. Looking at her body motion, she's happy with what she's doing.

  "Dominic did a good job. He had to trick her into going that slow, but right now that's what's best for her."

  02/01 10:38:22 ET