Cajun Queen looks to continue reign in optional claimer

Cajun Queen has been perfect in three starts since trainer Herman Wilensky claimed her for $16,000 on behalf of Amaty Racing Stables on March 19. If the 5-year-old mare stays in the zone, she is going to get her picture taken again following the ninth race at Gulfstream Park on Thursday.

The 7 1/2-furlong turf race drew nine horses, but Cajun Queen is a complete standout in the $25,000 optional-claiming race for fillies and mares and can be singled in the Rainbow 6, which begins with race 5 and has a $142,731 carryover.

The only time she was touched with a whip in her last three races was in her first start for her new connections, a $20,000 claiming race on April 20. She was well on her way to winning the one-mile turf race, but Tyler Gaffalione gave her a couple of left-handed taps in midstretch, probably just to keep her mind on business.

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The leading rider’s whip never came out during Cajun Queen’s 3 1/2-length romp in a $16,000 starter optional-claiming race May 19, or in her one-length win at the same level and distance June 9.

Wilensky is expecting another solid performance Thursday.

“She’s eating and training well,” he said. “She’s a sound horse and has just blossomed since I put her on my program. If this race didn’t go, we were going to run her in the stakes race [$50,000 Treasure Coast] this Saturday. Tyler said he hasn’t really asked her yet. If she runs well, we’ll look at trying her in a small stakes for her next start.”

There is some rain in the forecast, and Wilensky said Cajun Queen, who has won on dirt, probably would start if the race is moved to the main track. She drew post-position 7, with Gaffalione retaining the mount.

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KEY CONTENDERS

Cajun Queen, by Closing Argument
Last 3 Beyers: 84-83-81

◗ Her rising Beyer Speed Figures stand out, and with two sharp interim works, she appears to be sitting on another big race.

Fashionably Wild, by Unbridled’s Song
Last 3 Beyers: 75-71-72

◗ Trained by Angel Penna Jr., she had a wide trip and got stuck behind a slow pace in her first try with winners going 1 1/16 miles in a $25,000 optional-claiming race June 25.

◗ She took them all the way in a maiden special weight race going 7 1/2 furlongs in her previous start and figures to be in the mix early after breaking from the inside post with Jorge Ruiz retaining the mount.

Kizuna, by Harlington
Last 3 Beyers: 63-63-68

◗ The Gerald Bennett trainee is coming off a fourth-place finish in a $16,000 starter race at Tampa Bay Downs on May 7 and won’t mind the move back to a surface she has thrived over in the past.

◗ She can fire fresh, and over the past five years, Bennett has a 22 percent strike rate with horses coming back in 61 to 180 days.