Starship Nterprise in full flight for Miss Gracie
A suddenly improved Starship Nterprise looks like the one to beat rain or shine in the $75,000 Miss Gracie on Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The about 7 1/2-furlong race on turf for 3-year-old fillies drew eight horses and goes as race 5 on a 12-race card that gets under way at 12:20 p.m. Eastern.
Trained by Steven Dwoskin, Starship Nterprise took her time developing before winning a $50,000 maiden claimer going a mile on turf in her ninth start on May 21. It was a key race with three next-out winners, but the 65 Beyer Speed Figure she received for her narrow victory over Perserverancia did not impress the bettors as she was sent off at just more than 33-1 when she came back in the $75,000 Martha Washington on June 19.
Ignoring her odds, the Kentucky-bred daughter of Honor Code rallied to edge Karakatsie by a neck in the one-mile turf race. The race was elevated when Karakatsie came back to finish a close fourth despite having a rough trip in the Grade 2 San Clemente at Del Mar.
Starship Nterprise proved her improved performance was no fluke when she finished second on the main track in $75,000 Monroe on July 24, which was originally scheduled for turf. With Samy Camacho aboard, she was up close to a fast pace, and after taking the lead in the stretch in the one-mile race she could not hold off Key Biscayne, who came from well back to edge her by a neck. Key Biscayne received an 83 Beyer for her runner-up finish going 1 1/8 miles on turf in her next start at Saratoga in a third-level allowance race Aug. 25.
Starship Nterprise will break from post 7 with Miguel Vasquez riding. She will have speed to run at and could get up in time if she retains her current form.
Tik Tok Famous should provide some of the speed if she breaks better than she did in the Martha Washington.
One of three horses entered by leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., Tik Tok Famous set a quick pace when she won a maiden special weight race going the same distance as the Miss Gracie in her second start, on May 31. The English-bred daughter of Belardo was taken out of her game when she broke slowly in the Martha Washington.
She could be dangerous if she gets the jump on the other speed. Emisael Jaramillo rides.
A fast and contested pace could help Champagne Ivy who came from well back to win a one-mile maiden special weight on turf with Edgard Zayas riding for Joseph on Aug. 6.
The Robert Dibona-trained Sunshine City will use her good speed from the rail to try and complete the hat trick following front-running wins in a $25,000 starter race with a $25,000 claiming option on July 30 and a $35,000 nonwinners-of-two claimer for fillies and mares on Aug. 28.
A five-time winner, the Kentucky-bred daughter of Creative Cause is the only horse in the field with more than two victories.