Perfect Step will try to extend win streak in turf sprint
MIAMI – With little separation between at least a half-dozen members of the field, at least from a Beyer Speed Figure standpoint, bettors may want to look for value rather than choosing the obvious favorites in Saturday’s $50,000 turf-allowance feature at Gulfstream Park West.
Perfect Step, who put a punctuation mark on her current four-race win streak by taking an overnight stakes in her most recent start, and the versatile Katie’s Kiss likely will vie for favoritism in the five-furlong dash for fillies and mares.
Perfect Step began her current run under first-level allowance conditions July 5 and was claimed for what now appears to be a bargain $25,000 out of another victory just three weeks later. She continued to improve and win under the guidance of her new tutor, Peter Walder, stretching out around two turns to capture a midlevel starter allowance before turning back to five furlongs to become a stakes winner last out.
Katie’s Kiss has captured two of her last five outings dating back to the spring, with both of those wins coming at five panels, including an overnight stakes from well off the pace Aug. 16. Like Perfect Step, all of her recent success came over the Gulfstream Park turf course.
But on their best days, several other members of the well-matched field have posted efforts equal to or better than those of the two likely choices. That group includes Aquinnah, Catching Fireflies, Celebrity Star, and even potential longshot My Sweet Dove.
Aquinnah returns to south Florida after defeating a good field of optional-claiming rivals at Parx going five furlongs on turf. No stranger to local fans, Aquinnah earned high marks in winning an overnight stakes at Gulfstream over the same distance in April before scoring a 91 Beyer Speed Figure while finishing third in Pimlico’s The Very One Stakes on May 16.
Catching Fireflies has not started since finishing well behind Aquinnah as the 8-5 favorite after engaging in a suicidal pace duel in the Sunset overnight stakes at Gulfstream on April 12. But she has the speed to prove dangerous if not needing a race off the bench.
Celebrity Star makes a rare appearance on grass, although she did post a solid 87 Beyer in finishing second in an overnight stakes over the Gulfstream Park turf in July.
My Sweet Dove returns to the grass after capturing a second-level optional claimer over the main track in just her second start since joining Marty Wolfson’s barn earlier this summer.
KEY CONTENDERS
Perfect Step (Last 3 Beyers: 85-81-78)
◗ Her Beyers keep heading in the right direction, and she is the lone member of the field with a win over the course.
Katie’s Kiss (Last 3 Beyers: 86-85-83)
◗ She is another whose Beyers continue to head north, but she loses regular rider Tyler Gaffalione to Catching Fireflies.
Aquinnah (Last 3 Beyers: 83-84-72)
◗ She should sit a perfect stalking trip off the pace of Catching Fireflies, just as she did when winning the Sunset in April.