Gloriette goes for third straight for Bard-influenced barn
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HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – William Shakespeare has been a topic of conversation at the barn of trainer Shea Stuart ever since he claimed Gloriette, who will seek her third straight win Sunday in the featured eighth race at Oaklawn Park.
The addition of the filly to the stable has completed a fun play on words centered on one of the best-known works of The Bard.
“In the barn, I have Al’s Romeo and I have her,” Stuart said, “Just coincidentally, they’re next to each other, so it’s Romeo and Gloriette. It’s kind of funny.”
Gloriette, who is out of the mare Julerette, should go favored in Sunday’s second-level allowance for fillies and mares at 5 1/2 furlongs. The field of nine includes the stakes winners Punchy Girl and Appeal Factor.
Stuart claimed Gloriette on behalf of Falcon Thoroughbreds for $35,000 on Jan. 23. She was a seven-length winner of the sprint for non-winners of three races lifetime, then came back and won a first-level allowance by five lengths on Feb. 23.
“She ran great the day I claimed her and then she ran back great,” Stuart said. “I guess she’s just peaking right now. We didn’t really change anything. We didn’t do anything special. I think we just claimed a good one.”
In her last start, Gloriette covered six furlongs in a rapid 1:09.57. The Beyer Speed Figure of 84 she earned is the best last-race number in Sunday’s field. She tracked the pace and went on, and could again be prominent Sunday when she starts from post 7 under apprentice Tyler Bacon.
“It looks like there’s going to be some speed to her inside,” Stuart said. “I’m sure she’ll be close. She’s really fast. So I think there’ll be a little bit of speed and hopefully she can just settle.
“I think she’ll run a good race. She’s feeling good. As long as she breaks good and gets a clean trip, I think she’ll give it her all.”
Stuart said that if Gloriette turns in another strong performance, she will become a candidate for the $145,000 Majestic, a new overnight stakes for fillies and mares at six furlongs May 1 at Oaklawn.
“If all goes well, we’re going to shoot for that,” Stuart said. “I just think she’s kind of coming around. She’s always run solid, ran in tough races, and maybe she likes the track here this year, too.
Punchy Girl was second last out to Haulin Ice – the 2024 Arkansas-bred of the year – in the $150,000 Downthedustyroad Stakes.
“She’s a hard trier,” trainer Randy Morse said of Punchy Girl.
Keith Asmussen has the mount from the rail for owner Sara Patterson.
Appeal Factor is making her first start in the overnight ranks after running exclusively in stakes since beginning her career at Emerald Downs. She won three of them, all at sprint distances. The race Sunday will be her first since July.
She is entered for the claiming option of $62,500, as are Pharoah’s Heart and Demidanu.
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