Starcloud holds off Alter Moon in Game Face Stakes

Starcloud and heavily favored Alter Moon were in a race by themselves when they turned for home in the $75,000 Game Face Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. Starcloud, who set the pace, was able to hold off Alter Moon and paid $11.20 for her 1 3/4-length win in the seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies.

It was another 14 3/4 lengths to Onebrethatatime, who tired after pressing the early pace.

Breaking from the rail with Edgar Perez, Starcloud was gunned to the lead and was a length in front of Onebrethatatime after a quarter-mile in 22.59 seconds. She posted a 45.54 half-mile time while opening up a 2 1/2-length advantage over Alter Moon.

She was two lengths in front of the favorite at the eighth pole and never looked like losing while being hard-ridden to the wire. Alter Moon didn’t help herself when she broke a half-step slow and had to be hustled by Nik Juarez to get into the race early.

The final time was 1:23.31

It was the third straight win and fourth in five starts for the Florida-bred daughter of Backtalk trained by Oscar Gonzalez. Vicente Stella Stables claimed her for $25,000 out of her winning debut Dec. 29.