Feature race distance suits Baby I'm Perfect

Baby I’m Perfect moves from seven furlongs to a one-turn mile in Sunday’s featured ninth race at Gulfstream Park, a first-level allowance for 3-year-olds.

A mile is the distance of his best finish at the meet, as well as the distance that produced his highest Beyer Speed Figure.

“You know your horse’s best distance, but sometimes you have to compromise because that distance isn’t available,” said Happy Alter, who trains Baby I’m Perfect. “The last race, there was no mile. There was a seven-eighths and he was feeling so good we ran and caught a real stakes horse in there. This race is a mile. That’s better to his liking.”

Baby I’m Perfect exits a fourth-place finish in a first-level allowance Aug. 30. He pushed a hot pace in that race, which was won by the multiple stakes-placed Trophy Chaser. Nunc Pro Tunc, who was second, and Green Mansions, who was third, both return in Sunday’s ninth and could start as the top two choices in the field of 10.

The feature is part of the Rainbow 6 sequence that had a $1.6 million jackpot carryover into the card Friday.

KEY CONTENDERS

Baby I’m Perfect, by Flower Alley

Last 3 Beyers: 81-83-81

◗ He last raced at a mile Aug. 11 at Gulfstream, finishing second by three-quarters of a length in the first-level allowance. Baby I’m Perfect contested the pace and earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 83.

◗ In his subsequent start, he pushed Trophy Chaser through an opening quarter in 22.26 seconds and a half-mile in 44.68. Trophy Chaser went on to cover seven-eighths in 1:22.62 for a career-best Beyer of 97.

“They went head and head and they went real fast fractions,” said Alter. “This horse is pretty consistent. He tries hard and is a lovely horse to be around.”

◗ Baby I’m Perfect is closely related to one of Alter’s best recent runners, Curlin’s Approval, a multiple Grade 2 winner of $654,724 he owns with Bridlewood Farm. She retired in 2018.

“She’s in foal to Tapit, so we’re real excited about that,” said Alter.

Baby I’m Perfect is out of Image of Mom, a half-sister to Curlin’s Approval. Alter is the breeder and owner of Baby I’m Perfect.

◗ Samy Camacho has the mount from post 3.

Nunc Pro Tunc, by Private Vow

Last 3 Beyers: 95-74-78

◗ He was beaten a length by Trophy Chaser in his last race after sitting just off the pace. The Beyer of 95 that he earned is the best last-race number in the field Sunday.