The Lead:
Saturday’s $75,000 Gulfstream Park feature goes as Race 10 and rematches 4 runners from the Game Face Stakes, a race that has springboarded the past 5 winners of the Azalea. The Azalea Stakes inaugurated in 1975, was long part of Calder’s Summit of Speed and moved to Gulfstream Park in 2015 when extended from 6 furlongs to its current 7-furlong distance.

Field Depth:
Stakes winners LUVUMORGAN, ADNREA and UNCHAINED ELAINE headline the credentials. BEE A QUEEN, FEDER and ANNA’S PROMISE are stakes-placed, the latter in Grade 2 company. ANNA’S PROMISE and UNCHAINED ELAINE have consistently kept the most impressive strength of schedules.

Pace:
While there are no true blazers on the front end, no less than 5 of these 7 entrants have principally been pace-pressing types. It may not be blazing fast, but it will be competitive – and that sometimes can be more stressful than going faster while clear. A strong finisher may have the edge.

Our Eyes:
Here are my horse-by-horse notes.

#1-LUVUMORGAN: Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. won last year’s Azalea in dominant fashion with Haulin Ice, who also exited the Game Face Stakes. Strong finish last out netted a 103 BRIS late pace figure in the 6-1/2 furlong prep and a similar kick makes her strictly the one to beat in the final yards Saturday.

#2-BEE A QUEEN: After 7 losses to open her career, took out her frustrations on 4 maiden rivals June 14 with a 5-1/2 length breakout win. Jena Antonucci trainee didn’t finish as strong as it looks on paper, however, needed 13-2/5 the final furlong and earning a modest 84 BRIS late pace figure.

#3-ANDREA: Thousand Words filly rocketed to victory in her first 2 starts last summer and hinted at being a huge threat in this distaff sprint division locally. But she’s 1-for-5 since and was no match late for Saffie Joseph Jr. stablemate Luvumorgan late in the Game Face. She does seem to be rounding back to that promising form and may be the most dangerous of the early threats. Miguel Vasquez piloted 2022 Azalea winner Last Leaf.

#4-UNCHAINED ELAINE: Any Limit Stakes winner from March folded readily in the Game Fast last out to finish fifth of 6 at 2-1 odds. Shows 2 workouts since that May 31 disappointment for Patrick Biancone, similar to the other Game Face alumnae. Has struggled with stamina late in races beyond 6 furlongs more often than not.

#5-ANNA’S PROMISE: Grade 2 Gulfstream Oaks runner-up cuts back in distance for the first time since February, a streak of 4 straight route races (3 in stakes company). Short or long, she’s been part of the pace mix and probably will be again in this drop in class. Trainer Carlos David won this race in 2021 with Shea D Summer and plays a strong hand Saturday.

#6-FEDE: Last November’s My Dear Girl third-place finisher gets back to the stakes ranks after winning allowance races in 2 of her last 3 starts. Jockey Emisael Jaramillo seeks back-to-back Azalea victories after piloting Haulin Ice to victory a year ago. Armando De La Cerda trainee has been highly consistent around 1 turn.

#7-NERAZURRI: Longshot ran last by 25 lengths in the Game Face Stakes and requires a major wakeup call to turn the tables. Rider change to Edgar Perez as trainer Angel Quiroz shakes it up on this 2-for-6 maiden claiming graduate.

Most Likely Exotics Contender:
LUVUMORGAN handled many of these last out and should be finished best of all.

Best Longshot Contender:
No big prices projected.

Sending it in ($100 bankroll):
$85 exacta LUVUMORGAN over ANNA’S PROMISE. $15 exacta LUVUMORGAN over ANDREA.