Crazy Beautiful runs down Millefeuille to take Gulfstream Oaks

One year after campaigning the 3-year-old filly champion Swiss Skydiver, trainer Ken McPeek looks to have another serious player in that division with Crazy Beautiful, who rallied from last under Jose Ortiz to win Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks by 2 1/4 lengths.

Millefeuille, who made the lead at the top of the stretch, had to settle for second, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Competitive Speed. Con Lima, the 6-5 favorite and pacesetter, finished fourth, followed by Pens Street, Bow Bow Girl, and Len Lo Lady.

The victory was the first in a graded stakes for Crazy Beautiful, who had been second in a trio of such events, including last year’s Grade 1 Alcibiades. The win earned Crazy Beautiful 100 qualifying points to the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on April 30 at Churchill Downs.

Last year, McPeek won the Gulfstream Oaks with Swiss Skydiver, who, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, would have to wait more than five months to run in the Kentucky Oaks, where she finished second. But Swiss Skydiver won other major events, including the Preakness, Alabama, Santa Anita Oaks, and Fantasy to earn divisional honors.

“We were here a year ago, really proud of that win, maybe we can accomplish half as much this year,” McPeek said.

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Crazy Beautiful, who won the Ellis Park Debutante as part of a 2-for-5 juvenile campaign, began her 3-year-old season with a second-place finish to longshot Wholebodemeister in the Grade 2 Davona Dale. McPeek felt he didn’t have the filly entirely fit for that race and expected an improved performance in the Gulfstream Oaks.

Crazy Beautiful was last of seven early on as Con Lima, the 3-2 favorite, set fractions of 24.16 seconds for the quarter, 48.69 for the half-mile, and 1:13.08 for six furlongs while being stalked by Bow Bow Girl. Millefueille, under Tyler Gaffalione was on the move, and Ortiz followed her with Crazy Beautiful.

Millefeuille took the lead from Con Lima turning for home, but Crazy Beautiful, switched to the outside and went by Millefueille in deep stretch to get the victory.

“I thought Jose rode her perfect today,” McPeek said. “I told him don’t get in any hurry, don’t force anything, get her in a nice rhythm; he did that, being a little further back than she’s normally been but she’s got a great punch.”

Crazy Beautiful, a daughter of Liam’s Map owned by Phoenix Thoroughbreds, covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.41 and returned $6 as the second choice. Crazy Beautiful was given an 83 Beyer Speed Figure.

The Gulfstream Oaks was the third stakes victory on the card for Ortiz.

McPeek, who is planning to run Grade 1 winner Simply Ravishing in next Saturday’s Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland, said Crazy Beautiful will ship to Kentucky in a few days to prepare for the Kentucky Oaks.

Millefeuille, who finished seventh in the Davona Dale, bounced back with a solid effort to perhaps put herself back in the Kentucky Oaks picture.