Paradise Song, Competitive Speed find softer spot in Game Face Stakes
Paradise Song and Competitive Speed will appreciate the class relief when they run in the $75,000 Game Face on Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The 6 1/2-furlong dash for 3-year-old fillies drew seven horses and goes as race 11 on a 12-race card that begins at 12:20 p.m. Eastern.
Competitive Speed is taking a dramatic drop in class after finishing last in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on April 30 at Churchill Downs for trainer Javier Gonzalez.
The drop is not as steep for the Michael Trombetta-trained Paradise Song, who is coming off a seventh-place finish in the Grade 3 Miss Preakness on May 14 at Pimlico.
A Kentucky-bred daughter of Frosted, Paradise Song looks like the one to beat off of her 5 1/4-length romp in a first-level allowance race that carried a $62,500 claiming option at Laurel prior to her try in the Miss Preakness.
With Julian Pimentel riding, Paradise Song broke alertly from the outside post in the six-furlong allowance and was in the perfect spot as she sat just off Pretty Lori and Insightful, who dueled through honest fractions. You got the feeling the race was over when Paradise Song made her presence known turning for home and Pimentel looked over both shoulders to see if horses were making moves behind him. She drew off to win under wraps.
The 81 Beyer Speed Figure that Paradise Song received stands out, and she can be forgiven for not making a big impact in the Miss Preakness as she was bumped leaving the starting gate. Adding to her appeal Saturday is that leading rider Edgard Zayas will be aboard when she breaks from post 4.
Competitive Speed won the $75,000 Glitter Woman going 6 1/2 furlongs on Jan. 20 at Gulfstream before trying graded company in her next four starts. She had a rough trip finishing sixth in the Grade 3 Forward Gal before back-to-back third-place finishes in the Grade 2 Davona Dale and Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks.
The Kentucky-bred daughter of Competitive Edge completed a hat trick when she won the Glitter Woman and could be dangerous after being freshened following the Kentucky Oaks. She also should appreciate the move back to a sprint.
Competitive Speed will break from the rail with Leonel Reyes riding.
Minute Waltz, trained by Philip Bauer, won her debut going six furlongs in a maiden special weight race at Churchill and returns to a sprint for the first time following five straight routes, the latest a third-place finish going 1 1/16 miles in a first-level allowance race that carried a $75,000 claiming option on April 30 at Churchill Downs.
Coach Jer’s Joy could make a big impact for leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Palace came from a stalking position to win a seven-furlong first-level allowance race that carried a $75,000 claiming option in her last start on April 9 at Tampa Bay Downs.