Gulfstream Park: Kauai Katie dominates Old Hat Stakes
January 2, 2013HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Kauai Katie left little doubt who was boss in the first graded stakes of 2013 at Gulfstream Park after drawing off to a convincing eight-length triumph over Cor Cor and three other over matched rivals in the $100,000 Old Hat Stakes.
With John Velazquez aboard for the first time, Kauai Katie stalked the early pace of the speedy Cor Cor, gradually eased away from that rival once settling into the stretch, and then steadily increased her advantage while less than all out to the wire. Cor Cor outlasted Power Lady by nearly seven lengths to finish second.
The Grade 3 Old Hat was the fourth win in five starts for Kauai Katie, a daughter of Malibu Moon, who romped to similar easy victories at 2 in the Grade 2 Adirondack and Matron stakes. Kauai Katie, who is owned by Stonestreet Stables and trained by Todd Pletcher, ran six furlongs in 1:09.66 and paid $2.20.
“She was impressive,” Pletcher said immediately after the race. “I was concerned about the 3 filly [Cor Cor], it looked like she had a lot of speed and from the one post it makes it a little more difficult tactically, but it worked out well. The other filly cleared, we were able to make a move, get on the outside, and stalk.”
Pletcher said he believes Kauai Katie will be at her best sprinting after having suffered her only loss going 1 1/16 miles in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
“I think she’ll be at her best going a little shorter than we tried in the Breeders’ Cup,” Pletcher said. “Honestly, I don’t really think she handled the track there that day because as fast as she is, she was never really pulling herself along.”
Pletcher said the seven-furlong, Grade 2 Forward Gal on Jan. 26 would be next for Kauai Katie.