Gulfstream Park: Parranda looking for respect in Honey Fox
[bc_video_id:318546:]HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Parranda has won four stakes in her last five starts, yet she was not favored in any of those races. Both trends may well continue Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
Parranda is eligible to continue her winning ways against a strong group that includes defending champ Centre Court and other notable distaff turf specialists such as Tapicat, Effie Trinket, and Kitten Point in the Grade 2, $200,000 Honey Fox at one mile on turf.
Parranda’s streak dates back to her 2 1/4-length triumph in the restricted Our Dear Peg Stakes here Sept. 28 and includes wins in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Preview, the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf, and, most recently, the Grade 3 Suwannee River. She was allowed to set a very slow pace en route to a two-length decision over Riposte in the Suwannee River. Her four stakes wins have come at distances ranging from a mile to 1 1/8 miles.
“The pace was very slow, but the fractions for the final three-eighths of a mile were extremely fast in the Suwannee River,” said Rodolfo Garcia, who has managed the fortunes of Parranda so expertly for owner Lone Stable LLC.
Indeed, according to the fractional times, Parranda went from a 1:15.33 six-furlong split to a final time of 1:49.07, which means she covered her final three-eighths in 33.74 in the Suwannee River.
Garcia said he can’t put a finger on what has led to Parranda’s rapid improvement since the summer.
“I wish I could have a definite answer for the way she’s blossomed the way she has,” said Garcia. “Not only has she become a more authentic racehorse, but her racing style has also changed. I don’t think I’ve done anything drastically different.”
Parranda may not be on the lead but figures to be close to the pace while turning back to a mile for the Honey Fox, which, like the Suwannee River, is lacking early speed.
[Clocker Reports: Get Mike Welsch’s clocker reports from Gulfstream Park and Palm Meadows]
Centre Court rallied from midpack to a 1 3/4-length decision in the 2013 Honey Fox. She followed that performance with the best race of her life, a two-length tally in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland. But after failing to hit the board in three subsequent starts, Centre Court was found to have a pulled muscle in her back, and trainer Rusty Arnold gave her the remainder of the year off. This is her first start since August.
“We just kicked her out for the entire fall, and she came back to me in December,” Arnold said. “It would be exciting for me if we can get her back to her top level. She’s trained great, and we’ve been pointing for this race all along.”
Arnold also will send out the multiple stakes-placed Run a Risk in the Honey Fox.
Tapicat opened her season with a victory in the Voodoo Dancer overnight stakes on New Year’s Day before heading to Santa Anita to finish third in the Grade 2 Buena Vista Handicap on Feb. 17. The daughter of Tapit captured the Grade 3 Florida Oaks last winter at Tampa Bay Downs.
The New York-bred Effie Trinket was a model of consistency for trainer Rick Violette last year during her 3-year-old campaign, finishing first or second in six of her seven starts. She ended the season by finishing second, beaten a half-length by Emotional Kitten, in the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere at Churchill Downs on Nov. 16, which was her last start.
Kitten’s Point returns to the scene of her most important victory, a neck decision in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride last March. She returned from a 10-month vacation to register a 1 3/4-length optional-claiming victory going a mile here Feb. 8.