Classy Beast back on turf with pace to chase

Classy Beast has not won on grass, but her third-place finish in a key first-level allowance race with a $50,000 claiming option on June 19 makes her an attractive proposition in the feature race Thursday at Gulfstream Park. The $25,000 claimer for nonwinners of two drew 10 horses and goes as the seventh race on a nine-race card that begins at noon Eastern.

Cat Lady Steph is the 2-1 morning-line favorite in the five-furlong dash scheduled for turf. However, she has not raced since she finished second in a $30,000 claimer for nonwinners of two on Jan 20.

The David Fawkes-trained Classy Beast has recency working in her favor as she finished fourth going six furlongs on the main track on July 23. She was sitting second at the half-mile call, but could not keep up with Lenzi’s Lucky Lady, who held on to finish second behind Reluctant Bride. Reluctant Bride rallied from fourth to win going away.

In her previous race, which was her first try on grass, Classy Beast came from well back to finish third. She was last early in the five-furlong dash before finishing with a rush to only lose by 1 1/2 lengths to Fujairah and Swirling Candy.

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Fujairah finished second in her next start, the $78,000 Blue Sparkler on July 11 at Monmouth. The 5 1/2-furlong sprint was originally scheduled for turf but was moved to the main track. Fujairah also is stakes-placed on turf. Last year, she finished second to Onyx in the $117,000 Sharp Susan at Gulfstream.

Classy Beast broke well enough, but with Emisael Jaramillo aboard she dropped out of it. She started to make her presence known on the turn and finished strong from the far outside.

It was the only time Jaramillo rode the 3-year-old homebred daughter of The Big Beast who races for Alex and Jo Ann Lieblong. The veteran jockey will be aboard when she breaks from post 3.

Cat Lady Steph was making her first start at Gulfstream and first for trainer Paul Kopaj when she almost took them all the way in her last start. With Luca Panici riding, she set fast interior fractions and held on well to lose by a neck to Bye the Sey Shore. Although Bye The Sey Shore has not won since, she just missed in her next start in a first-level allowance race. The 82 Beyer Speed Figure that Cat Lady Steph received is easily the best in the field. If she can reproduce that performance coming off a more than seven-month layoff she’s the winner.

She will break from post 4 with Panici riding.

There is other potential speed in the field, which should help Classy Beast and Tony’s Rose.

Trained by Kent Sweezey, Tony’s Rose did not fire in the same race Classy Beast made her strong late move in. However, with Samy Camacho riding, she rallied to finish second in a $25,000 starter race with a $25,000 claiming option in her previous start.

The 3-year-old daughter of Tonalist should get a similar trip while being reunited with Camacho.