Klassy Bridgette puts three-race streak on line in Purple Martin
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Trainer Chris Hartman has shown discipline in mapping out races for Klassy Bridgette this meet at Oaklawn Park.
He could have moved the 3-year-old filly to two turns for a local stakes following a six-length allowance win in January. Instead, he awaited the Dixie Belle.
Klassy Bridgette won the six-furlong race to improve her record at the meet to 3 for 3. On Saturday she will seek to win her fourth straight race in the $150,000 Purple Martin.
“She likes Oaklawn,” Hartman said. “She’s not been beaten here, ran on through her conditions. I hope she keeps up with it.”
Klassy Bridgette is part of a six-horse field for the Purple Martin, which is for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs. The competitive sprint drew fellow stakes winners Key of Life and Izatiz, South Florida shipper Socially Selective, and the 2-for-2 runner Topsy.
Klassy Bridgette launched her career last fall in Kentucky, finishing second in a pair of maiden sprints, one at Churchill Downs and the other at Keeneland. She then came to Oaklawn and won a maiden-special at 5 1/2 furlongs Dec. 11, before taking the first-level allowance on Jan. 13 and the Dixie Belle on Feb. 11.
“I keep wanting to stretch her out, but it’s a little hard to stretch her when she keeps winning sprinting,” Hartman said. “The spacing on these races has been perfect for her, so we’re just leaving her where she’s been successful. Eventually, we’ll try to stretch her out.”
Francisco Arrieta has ridden Klassy Bridgette in each of her Oaklawn starts and has the mount from the rail Saturday. For her Dixie Belle win, Klassy Bridgette earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 79.
“Her last race was, I thought, one of her better races,” Hartman said. “She likes to stalk. She broke out of the gate a lot better than she has for some reason. She has not been breaking as sharp as she does in the morning. She actually broke well, and Arrieta put a good ride on her – came up on the inside of those horses to win.”
Klassy Bridgette, a daughter of Army Mule, has earned more than $200,000 this meet for owners JD Thoroughbreds, Joe K. Davis, and Larry Romero.
The chief threat appears to be Key of Life, winner of the $200,000 Myrtlewood in October at Keeneland. She launched her 3-year-old season in the Dixie Belle, finishing third after racing with the pace on a muddy track. Key of Life will break from post 5. Trainer Brad Cox has given the mount to Isaac Castillo.
Socially Selective is making her first start since winning her debut in a maiden sprint last August at Saratoga. The race has become a key one, with the second- and third-place finishers both returning to win maiden races at the Belmont at Aqueduct meet. As for Socially Selective, she shows some sharp works at Payson Park for her return, and owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure, an 82. David Cabrera has the mount from post 4 for trainer Bill Mott.
Izatiz enters off back-to-back sprint stakes wins at Sam Houston Race Park. Jansen Melancon has the mount from post 3 for trainer David Gomez.
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