Musical Romance seeks better trip in Inside Information

by James Scully

Champion female sprinter Musical Romance experienced a troubled trip when

opening 2012 in the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Sprint, grabbing a quarter

and ripping off a shoe at the start, but the five-year-old will look to rebound

when she lines up for Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Inside Information at

Gulfstream Park. The Bill Kaplan-trained mare will square off against 10 rivals,

including the top four finishers from the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie Stakes on

February 29.

Musical Romance lost all chance at the start last time, but the six-furlong

distance was not a good fit either. She loves seven-eighths of a mile, posting a

1 1/4-length score in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint that

basically earned her the Eclipse Award, and will be stretching back out to her

preferred trip here. However, Musical Romance is winless in five career starts

at Gulfstream. Regular rider Juan Leyva will retain the mount on the daughter of

Concorde's Tune.

R Holiday Mood led wire to wire in the 6 1/2-furlong Hurricane Bertie,

garnering her first graded stakes win in the process, and the Todd

Pletcher-trained speedster will keep John Velazquez up Saturday. Funny Sunny

will look to improve upon her runner-up showing after being beaten only a neck

by R Holiday Mood. The Bob Hess Jr. trainee entered the Hurricane Bertie off a

sharp three-length allowance tally January 8 and Funny Sunny posted a 10

3/4-length allowance tally over the track last year. Kent Desormeaux rides.

Grade 1 winner Her Smile, a $1 million purchase at the November Keeneland

sale, faltered at 4-5 last time, recorded a non-threatening third in the

Hurricane Bertie, but remains eligible to show more in her second start for Chad

Brown. Belle of the Hall, a late-running fourth last time for Tom Albertrani, is

also back for the Inside Information.

Magical Feeling ships into South Florida for conditioner Allen Iwinski

following a neck upset in the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie at Laurel Park, and Grade

3 vixen Groupie Doll will receive class relief following a third in the Grade 3

Sabin. She was no match for Awesome Maria, but Groupie Doll finished only a head

back of champion Royal Delta last time.