Gulfstream Park: The Cat's All That tries two turns in allowance

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Most trainers look forward to stretching their top 3-year-old prospects out around two turns for the first time, and Chuck Peery is no exception to the rule. Peery will give his promising 3-year-old filly The Cat’s All That an opportunity to try a route of ground in Thursday’s $53,500 main event at Gulfstream Park, a race to be decided under entry-level allowance conditions at 1 1/16 miles over the main track.

The Cat’s All That, a daughter of Bluegrass Cat, made three starts at 2, launching her career finishing a troubled fourth going six furlongs over the Keeneland Polytrack on Oct. 15. She moved to dirt to register an easy eight-length maiden win after shipping to Calder the following month, before ending her juvenile campaign finishing a promising second behind the well-regarded and possibly stakes-bound Broadway’s Alibi here Dec. 15.

The 75 Beyer Speed Figure that The Cat’s All That received in her local debut is the highest last-out figure recorded by any filly in Thursday’s headliner.

“I’m really looking forward to stretching the filly out, and both her breeding and the way she trains makes you think she’ll sure go long,” Peery said. “She had the one hole first time out, and there was a bad wreck in the race, a horse went down right beside her and she had to check a little. She improved dramatically in her second start, and I thought she stepped forward again in her first winner’s race, because she proved she could sit back and make one run. The thought there was to take a hold of her and not let her show as much speed with this race in mind.”

The Cat’s All That drew post 7 in the bulky lineup, perhaps a bit of a disadvantage with such a short run to the first turn. Daniel Centeno, who rode The Cat’s All That in each of her last two starts, will have the mount again Thursday.

“I don’t think the post will be a problem,” Peery said. “She’s a real good gate horse and should break well enough for Daniel to be able to get good position with her.”

Miss Netta and Golden History will return to allowance company after testing graded stakes waters in their last two starts.

Miss Netta was an easy debut winner this summer at Saratoga before finishing third in the Grade 1 Frizette and sixth following a rough trip in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Golden History also was an impressive winner at first asking, winning her maiden at Woodbine, before shipping to Churchill Downs to finish fifth behind On Fire Baby in both the Grade 2 Pocahantas and Grade 2 Golden Rod.

Dancing Solo is the only member of the field with a win over this track, having led at every call while cruising to a nine-length maiden special weight victory going 1 1/16 miles in a race switched from the turf to a good main track.