Brahms Cat the big dog in Game Face Stakes

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Larry Bates said running his top 3-year-old filly Brahms Cat against the “heavy heads” and “blue bloods” in races like the Forward Gal and Davona Dale this winter at Gulfstream probably was a lot harder on him than his filly, who acquitted herself well.

On Saturday, many handicappers will consider Brahms Cat the “heavy head”when the graded-stakes-placed filly returns against much softer opposition in the $75,000 Game Face Stakes, a seven-furlong dash restricted to 3-year-old fillies who have never won a stakes.

Brahms Cat is one of only two horses in the Game Face with more than a single win, along with Queen Roller, and the only one with stakes experience.

Brahms Cat finished third behind Tequilita and Grade 1 winner Pretty City Dancer in the Grade 2 Forward Gal going seven furlongs on Feb. 4. She has made just one start since, rallying from near the rear of a 14-horse field to finish fifth in the Grade 2 Davona Dale on March 4 while trying a mile for the first time.

“She held her own against some top competition here this winter, and I didn’t want to do too much with her too soon after the Davona Dale because I want to have her around here for the summer,” said Bates, who trains Brahms Cat for Bluestone Thoroughbreds LLC.

Although Brahms Cat has always done her best from well off the pace, Bates describes her as a “diverse sort” who can be closer if she wants.

“I opened her nose up a little this morning, and she went in 36 and 2,” Bates said on Thursday. “She’s a real pleasure to be around, and I’m going into the race feeling lucky to have a filly like this while thinking she should give a pretty good account of herself.”

Queen Roller is one of four members of the field entering the overnight stakes off a victory, having held gamely to register a half-length decision against $50,000 starter-allowance opposition on April 5. The Game Face will be her first start beyond six furlongs.

Jakobs Rocket Girl and My Miss Tapit each registered an impressive maiden special weight victory last out.

Jakobs Rocket Girl showed high speed over a wet track, winning off by 7 1/2 lengths to capture a key race from which the second-, third- and fourth-place finishers each returned to win a maiden race by open lengths.

My Miss Tapit, a $550,000 purchase at the 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale, is by Tapit and is a full sister to two Grade 3-placed siblings. She ran to her breeding right off the bat for trainer Todd Pletcher, rallying to a 2 1/2-length victory despite an eventful trip at 5 1/2 furlongs here on March 10.

Actress is still a maiden but should not be overlooked. A daughter of Tapit out of the $1.98 million earner Milwaukee Appeal, she finished full of run to be second in her lone start on March 19 for trainer Jason Servis and figures to benefit from the added distance and what likely will be an honest pace in the Game Face.

◗ Trainer Javier Negrete sent out the winner of the season’s first 2-year-old event when Di Maria cruised to a three-length triumph over Pantyhose in Wednesday’s second race. Di Maria was ridden by Martin Ramirez for owner Carlos Munoz. She paid $31.60. Di Maria is from the first crop of Data Link, who captured the Grade 2 Canadian Turf here in 2013.

◗ All Included, the winner of the Grade 3 Appleton here in his last start, tops a list of 17 horses nominated to the Grade 3 Miami Mile a week from Saturday. The card also will include its filly counterpart, the $100,000 Powder Break, which attracted 20 nominations led by the graded-stakes-placed Stormy Victoria.