Curlin's Catch steps up with victory in Suncoast Stakes

It will never be known if Curlin’s Catch was helped in part by the defections of the two morning-line favorites as she coasted to victory Saturday in the 41st running of the $100,000 Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar, Fla.

But what is known is this – the daughter of Curlin is definitely on her way up in the ranks of 3-year-old fillies after earning 10 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Oaks in her stakes debut.

“She’s very classy,” trainer Mark Casse said after Antonio Gallardo guided the Curlin filly to a 4 1/2-length score over Be Sneaky. “She seems to just get better and better. She sure has the right kind of pedigree and now she seems to be running to it.”

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The two pre-race choices, Gulf Coast and Honorifique, both were early scratches in the 1 mile, 40 yard Suncoast, leaving Curlin’s Catch the favorite in a field of seven. Saving ground on both turns when just a few lengths off the lead, Curlin’s Catch found a seam between rivals after turning for home and quickly put the issue to rest, finishing in 1:40.89 over a fast track. She returned $5.60.

Curlin’s Catch, an Ontario-bred owned by the Breezy Easy LLC, was making her fourth start after capturing a January 3 maiden race at Gulfstream Park in similarly easy fashion.

Il Malocchio was another half-length behind Be Sneaky in third, while Feeling Mischief, the 5-2 second choice, faded to fifth.