Miss Mo Mentum thinks Kentucky Oaks after Hut Hut win

Six stakes for 2-year-olds, each worth $75,000 apiece, preceded the Clasico Internacional del Caribe championships Saturday at Gulfstream Park in south Florida. Here are brief recaps:

Hut Hut

Miss Mo Mentum stamped herself as a legitimate Kentucky Oaks prospect when splashing to an 8 3/4-length romp, finishing a one-turn mile in 1:40.41 over a sloppy track. Tyler Gaffalione was up for owner Gary Barber and trainer Mark Casse.

Miss Mo Mentum, by Uncle Mo, returned $5.40 to win. Alliya’s Story was up late to be second in a field of eight.

It was the second straight race in which Miss Mo Mentum looped her field and won without urging, following a similarly impressive allowance score last month at Churchill Downs.

Wait a While
Malibu Saint ($35.20), ridden by Luis Saez, emerged best in an eventful finish to this one-mile turf race that led to the disqualification of Golden Orb from third to fourth for interfering with Filfila, who was elevated to third. Gift of Glory was uninvolved in the deep-stretch incident when second at 67-1.

Mike Maker trains Malibu Saint for Treadway Racing Stable. The Malibu Moon filly finished in 1:45.76 over a course rated “good” when coming off a runner-up finish in an October allowance over the Keeneland turf.

Buffalo Man
Diamond Oops ($7.40) rallied from just off the pace to draw off to a two-length score over 36-1 shot Madarnas when finishing six furlongs in 1:11.40 under Victor Espinoza. Mojovation, the 4-5 favorite, had no mishap when fourth in a field of six.

Diamond Oops is owned by a four-way partnership that includes trainer Patrick Biancone and his longtime client, Martin Schwartz. The Lookin At Lucky colt now has won three of four career starts.

House Party
Take Charge Paula ($9.40) out-gamed Razorback Lady after the two dueled almost from the half-mile pole to the wire, with the official win margin a half-length after six furlongs in 1:11.60.

Paco Lopez was aboard Take Charge Paula for owner Bruce Tallisman and trainer Kelly Breen. The daughter of Take Charge Indy now has won three ungraded stakes from six overall starts.

Smooth Air
Bal Harbour ($6.60) was up in the final jumps to nail 14-1 shot Whereshetoldmetogo to give trainer Todd Pletcher his only win of the day.

Javier Castellano was aboard Bal Harbour for Pletcher and the First Samurai colt’s owner-breeder, the Red Oak Stable of John Brunetti. The winning time for the one-turn mile was 1:38.01 over the slop.

Pletcher, who had four winners Friday at Gulfstream, was represented by the post-time favorite in all but one of these six 2-year-old stakes, including Coltandmississippi in the Smooth Air. All five Pletcher favorites were ridden by John Velazquez.

Pulpit
Speed Franco ($28.40) made all the running in this one-mile turf race before spurting away at the top of the stretch and proceeding to a six-length score over the Pletcher duo of Pony Up and Maraud. Technically a maiden facing winners – he finished first but was disqualified in his lone prior start in September – Speed Franco finished in 1:42.29 over a “good” course.

Emisael Jaramillo was aboard Speed Franco, a Declaration of War colt, for owner Grupo 7C Racing Stable and trainer Gustavo Delgado. All of the winning connections hail from Venezuela.