Sugar Swirl Stakes at Gulfstream Park

Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 3 Sugar Swirl Stakes takes place this Saturday, December 8 from Gulfstream Park. Horses three years old and upward will dash six furlongs on Gulfstream's main track as they go after the winner's portion of the $100,000 purse.

A field of seven three year olds will line up in the Sugar Swirl which is race 9 on Gulfstream's Saturday schedule. Here is a look at the credentials of all seven entries and what brought them to this Grade 3 race.

2012 Sugar Swirl Stakes Race Favorites

Dust and Diamonds - Steve Asmussen filly made her graded stakes debut with a very good win in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom after two more wins - the minor Dashing Beauty Stakes at Delaware Park and an Allowance Optional Claiming at Oaklawn Park way back in March. Last time out was a very nice second by four lengths to overwhelming favorite Groupie Doll in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint in a race that she finished four lengths clear of third place finisher Switch. She has three wins, a second and a third place finish in five starts this year and has to be considered the favorite for new trainer Todd Pletcher in the Sugar Swirl.

Sacristy - has seven starts in 2012 with two wins - the Grade 3 Old Hat Stakes at Gulfstream January 1 and two back in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Arlington Park. Prior to her latest win Sacristy struggled in two races posting a sixth in the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes May 28 and a seventh in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks. Sacristy did finish second last time out in the Grade 2 Raven Run Stakes and enters in the best form we have seen from her in nearly a year.

Sugar Swirl Stakes 2012 | Remaining Field Entries

Honey Chile - had two straight Allowance Optional Claiming wins in the summer and followed that up with a third two back in the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes at Keeneland October 6. Last time out was a disappointing seventh in the Grade 3 Ontario Fashion Stakes at Woodbine November 4. She has two wins, two seconds and three third place finishes in 11 starts this year for trainer Wayne Catalano.

Spectacular Sky - won an Allowance Optional Claiming race at Santa Anita on February 11 and followed that with two straight minor stakes races at Calder before a sixth last time out in the Grade 2 Chilukki Stakes at Churchill Downs November 3. Having three wins in the last four starts has Spectacular Sky looking good for the Sugar Swirl although her best results came against lesser competition.

Sugar Swirl Stakes betting at Gulfstream Park with OffTrackBetting.com

Hearts of Red - had won two straight races - an Allowance Optional Claiming on February 8 and a Maiden Claiming race on December 31, both here before finishing a distant yet respectable third to Grace Hall in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Oaks on March 31. Hearts of Red is coming off a decent second in the minor Dream Supreme Stakes at Belmont Park October 7 to follow an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Saratoga in August. She has three wins, a second and two third place finishes in 10 career starts.

Nakano - graded stakes placed and stakes winner, Nakano has placed in all six starts this year with two wins, one second and three third place finishes. She has three thirds in the last four - the minor Mike Sherman Memorial last time out, the Barb's Dancer at Calder August 5 and the Grade 1 Princess Rooney Handicap July 7. Sandwiched in there is a win two back in the Connie Ann Stakes September 3.

Golden Mystery - has three second place finishes and a third in seven starts this year with the seconds coming in the Mike Sherman Memorial ahead of Nakano two back and a pair of Allowance Optional Claiming races in the summer. Last time out was a fourth in the Jack Dudley Sprint Handicap at Calder November 10. She had a seventh in the 2011 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint and had another seventh in her only graded stakes race in a year - the Grade 1 Princess Rooney three back.

2012 Sugar Swirl Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 9 on Gulfstream Park's Saturday card with a Post Time of 4:35 PM.