Strategy Queen gets a second shot at Rapturous

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Strategy Queen will have a score to settle when she takes on Rapturous and five other juvenile fillies in Friday’s co-feature at Gulfstream Park, a 5 1/2-furlong allowance dash to be decided over the Tapeta surface.

The event shares top billing on the nine-race program with an allowance dash at six furlongs for fillies and mares on the main track that lured seven, including likely favorite Naughty Shirley. Both races offer a $52,000 purse.

Strategy Queen dropped a 1 1/4-length decision to Rapturous when the pair met for the first time, racing under $50,000 maiden-claiming tags on Sept. 11. Strategy Queen did most of the dirty work as the 7-5 favorite, disputing a fast early pace with Chess Not Checkers before succumbing gradually to Rapturous down the lane. Strategy Queen, who is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Merseyside, showed a couple of new dimensions 19 days later in her next start, easing off a fast pace before swinging wide and rallying to a three-quarter-length victory while making a successful debut over the Tapeta track. She is trained by leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

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Rapturous was launching her career for trainer Kathleen O’Connell when she rallied to defeat Strategy Queen under a perfectly orchestrated ride by regular jockey Luca Panici. She too was able to transfer that good form to the Tapeta when she came back seven weeks later and again rallied from just off the leaders to a game three-quarter-length decision under optional claiming and allowance conditions similar to those she encounters Friday. Rapturous is eligible to compete in Friday’s race by virtue of having run under the $75,000 claiming tag in her last start.

Other key contenders include the speedy maiden Boo Boo Kitty and recent maiden special weight winner Sequin Lady, who defeated statebreds by nearly three lengths over a sloppy strip with a career-best 59 Beyer Speed Figure on Oct. 22.

Joseph also sends out a contender in the eighth race, with Naughty Shirley dropping in company off a very strong local debut when second behind the odds-on Choose Joy going 5 1/2 furlongs on the Tapeta. Choose Joy has dominated the turf/synthetic sprint division for fillies and mares here all season. Naughty Shirley returns to dirt and could have plenty of company vying for her favorite spot on the lead with speedsters Liza Star and Gitana also in the lineup.

A hot pace could enhance the chances of Mizzen and Panarea. Mizzen, a lightly raced but steadily improving 3-year-old, rallied to easily defeat conditioned-claiming foes in her previous start.

◗ With the fall meet ending Sunday, Joseph and Edgard Zayas have all but wrapped up yet another trainer and jockey title. The local circuit will be dark until racing resumes on Dec. 3, opening day of the 2021-22 Championship meet.

The first condition book for the Championship session is available online. Nominations for the first two stakes races of the upcoming meet, the $75,000 Pulpit for 2-year-olds and $75,000 Wait a While for 2-year-old fillies, close Sunday. Both races are being run opening day Nominations for the Grade 3, $100,000 Mr. Prospector on Dec. 11 close on Nov. 28.