Breath Away seeks repeat of impressive debut
Breath Away was a poorly kept secret when she won at first asking as the 5-2 favorite in a field of 11 last month at Gulfstream Park.
That performance likely makes her the favorite again Sunday when she takes on nine rivals in a one-mile first-level allowance/optional $75,000 claiming feature for 3-year-old fillies at Gulfstream. This is one of five turf races scheduled on an 11-race card that starts at 12:10 p.m. and is likely to end an hour before kickoff of the Super Bowl.
Breath Away, an English-bred daughter of Bated Breath, was handy enough to overcome a stutter-step start and attain an inside stalking position by the first turn after breaking from post 8 in the 11-horse field. She was tipped off the inside by Joel Rosario and wore down Typey to win by a half-length.
“The speed numbers didn’t come back very good, but she did it visually impressively,” said trainer Christophe Clement, who conditions Breath Away for Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Steven Rocco, and Tango Uniform Racing. “She had a great trip, but she was able to quicken like a nice horse. It’s always nice when they win first time out.”
Breath Away has post 8 of 10 on Sunday.
Trainer Mark Casse has the uncoupled entry of Eme Claire and Scottish Symphony entered in this spot. Eme Claire made her first two starts over Woodbine’s Tapeta surface last fall, finishing fourth on debut and then coming back to win by a comfortable 6 1/4 lengths going six furlongs Dec. 9. She will be trying turf and a mile for the first time in this spot.
“Going into her first race we thought she trained just okay and she ran good,” Casse said. “Going into her second race we thought she trained just okay and she ran great. Our feeling is she’s a little better racehorse in the afternoon than she is in the morning.”
With Eme Claire being a Canadian-bred, Casse is hoping she could develop into a potential Woodbine Oaks filly.
Scottish Symphony won a 1 1/16-mile maiden race over Woodbine’s Tapeta before finishing fourth as the favorite in this condition going 7 1/2 furlongs on Jan. 12.
“Last time she was making a bit of a move when everybody kind of started coming out and she shied a little bit and it cost her momentum,” Casse said.
Scottish Symphony, who has Tyler Gaffalione aboard, will have to overcome post 9.
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American Rockette, a half-sister to millionaire Frank’s Rockette, will try turf for the first time for Bill Mott. American Rockette, by American Pharoah, was entered for turf in her debut last summer at Saratoga, but won the race when it came off and remained on dirt for three unsuccessful graded stakes runs.
Candle, after two losses in Saratoga, won her maiden by a nose going six furlongs Nov. 4 at Aqueduct for trainer Shug McGaughey.
Thirty Thou Kelvin, Outofnothingatall, Cloudy Bay, Agua Dulce, and Essaouira complete the field.
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