February 26 - Today (Friday, February 26) at Gulfstream Park in Florida, betting fans can look to a race card crammed with nine claiming and allowance races, but arguably the highlight of the proceedings will be the $53,000 Allowance which has attracted a sizeable 11-horse field including Lemon Spice.

Contested over a mile, the allowance is for 4-year-olds and up that have never won a race on the turf except for a maiden, claiming or starter. As such, it should attract some strong betting action given its large and diverse field. And for trainer Bennie Stutts Jr, his charge Lemon Spice is ready for this race.

'I think the race was written for him, in a manner of speaking,' said the experienced trainer regarding the 5-year-old gelding. 'He's already won two turf races for a $50,000 claiming tag, but he's never won an allowance race so this race fits him perfectly.' Lemon Spice is no stranger to Gulfstream Park.

Following a 7 1/2-month layoff last fall at Calder Racecourse, Stutts Jr brought the gelding back up to form as well as reacquainted him with turf, a surface that he seems to excel on. The result was a notable first place in a $50,000 claiming race at Gulfstream - his first race of 2010 - just beating Big Stick.

In his second race of the year, Lemon Spice finished third in a second-level allowance. 'He's definitely gotten better since getting back on the grass and I took the blinkers off him,' said Stutts. 'I've done that with a lot of older horses. Once they start showing they're competitive, they no longer need blinkers.'

The trainer went on to say that he is very happy to have renowned turf specialist, Javier Castellano, aboard in the $53,000 Allowance. 'I believe that I've got the best turf rider in the country in Javier Castellano. So with a little luck I'm looking forward to being in the winner's circle come Friday.'

Lemon Spice will start as the 4/1 second favorite behind 3/1 favorite Vacation, who will be ridden by Julien Leparoux. Vacation finished fourth in last year's Cigar Mile (Gr 1) and fifth in the Ft. Lauderdale Stakes, both dirt races. So it will be interesting to see how he fares on turf today in Florida.

Here is the complete field and odds for the $53,000 Allowance at Gulfstream Park today:

Sam P. (KY) 12/1
Lemon Spice (KY) 4/1
Wingedlie (FL) 8/1
Weslinn (FL) 20/1
Sincero (FL) 6/1
Medjool (KY) 12/1
March Twelth (FL) 20/1
Anarko (CHI) 6/1
Peace Chant (KY) 12/1
Vacation (KY) 3/1
Dynamoor (KY) 6/1