Gulfstream Park: Kauai Katie romps in Forward Gal

Barbara D. Livingston

Kauai Katie has never been beaten in a one-turn race.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Kauai Katie continued her dominance in one-turn races when cruising to an easy 5 ½-length victory over the Grade 1-placed My Happy Face in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Forward Gal Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Kauai Katie added the seven-furlong Forward Gal to a similarly dominant eight-length triumph in the six-furlong, Grade 3 Old Hat here less than four weeks earlier. The victory was the fifth consecutive one-sided win for Kauai Katie at distances of seven furlongs or less. Her only loss in six career starts was a fourth-place finish in the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Kauai Katie broke alertly from her outside post and wasted little time clearing off to the lead under jockey John Velazquez, who kept her slightly removed from the rail while setting fractions of 22.89 seconds and 45.74 for the opening quarter- and half-mile. Kauai Katie readily disposed of early challenger Pow Wow Wow on the final turn, then steadily increased her advantage through the stretch.

My Happy Face, who was beaten a heart-breaking head by Kauai Katie’s stablemate Dreaming of Julia in the Grade 1 Frizette, saved ground while tracking the leaders, slipped through on the rail, and was easily second best. She was followed by Pow Wow Wow, Fusaichiswonderful, Spring Venture, and Ashlee’s Princess.

Kauai Katie covered the distance in 1:22.13 and paid $2.60.

“We thought from the outside post we’d be able to survey how the race went and she broke very alertly, was there [on the lead] so easily, there was no point in taking it away,” said Todd Pletcher, who trains Kauai Katie for Stonestreet Stable. “I think that’s it for her at Gulfstream with the next two at a mile and a sixteenth and a mile and an eighth. We’ll probably freshen her up a little bit with our main summer goals races like the Prioress and the Test.”

Trainer Rudy Rodriguez was pleased with My Happy Face’s performance.

“We got tight in the turn but this is a good experience for us,” said Rodriguez. “We are looking to run her long so hopefully she comes back good and we’ll take it from there.”