Pursuing Fate gets second chance on turf
It is tough to take a firm stand on any of the seven horses entered in race 5, a first-level allowance race for 3-year-olds and up, at Gulfstream Park West on Saturday. Pursuing Fate looks as good as any in the five-furlong turf sprint.
Zia and Flash Jak are entered for the main track only and will run if the race is washed off the grass.
Trained by Michael Maker, Pursuing Fate is eligible to improve in her second start on grass. She didn’t break sharply in her first try on turf, which came on a course rated good in the $150,000 Florida Sire Jewel Princess at Gulfstream on Sept. 5. After moving into contention early in the one-mile race, she faded to fifth.
It was also the first time Pursuing Fate tried a middle distance, and she should appreciate the move back to a sprint.
A daughter of In Summation, Pursuing Fate is a half-sister to Dance With Fate, who has the distinction of being the last horse to win the Grade 1 Blue Grass on Polytrack at Keeneland. He also won the only time he ran on turf.
Pursing Fate drew post 6, and jockey Rafael Hernandez likely will try to put her into the race right out of the gate.
KEY CONTENDERS
Pursuing Fate (Last 3 Beyers: 41-70-72)
◗ This is a much easier spot than the Jewel Princess, which produced next-out winners Katie’s Kiss (91 Beyer Speed Figure) and Moment of Delight (89).
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years, Maker has a 27 percent strike rate with horses running on turf and moving from a route to a sprint.
Our Liberty Bay (Last 3 Beyers: 68-54-70)
◗ Trained by Ralph Catanese, she is coming off a runner-up finish going five furlongs in a $25,000 optional-claiming race on turf at Gulfstream on Sept. 26, and the 68 Beyer she received is the best last-race figure in the field.
◗ She could be sitting on a big effort in the third start of her form cycle.
Meetmeforasmoke (Last 3 Beyers: 67-55-54)
◗ More by necessity than design, the David Kassen-trained 3-year-old showed a new dimension by rallying late after getting away a step slowly in the same race that Our Liberty Bay exits.
◗ There should be an honest pace, and she could be dangerous if she can settle into a stalking position.