Some heady handling by jockey Eduardo Nunez helped Wildcat Kate turn the tables on previously unbeaten rival Bode's Dream with the former putting the heat on early and getting up in the final strides to take the $100,000 Old Hat Stakes.
Each week BloodHorse.com looks forward to the weekend's biggest races. Consider this your weekly guide to the best stakes races in North America. This week we have graded stakes action on both coasts at Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Park.
Mother Nature may exert an influence in the marquee races on both coasts Saturday, as there is a good chance for rain at Santa Anita and at Gulfstream Park.
St. Elias Stable's multiple stakes winner Bode's Dream will put her perfect form on the line when she makes her first start as a newly-turned 3-year-old against a field of six challengers in the $100,000 Old Hat Stakes at Gulfstream Park Jan. 7.
Lucy N Ethel, two-for-two at Parx last year, went wire-to-wire in the Old Hat Stakes (gr. III) Jan. 2 at Gulfstream Park. The daughter of During covered the six furlongs in 1:10.03.
Jacks or Better Farm's homebred Ballet Diva (by Hear No Evil) goes for career win number five in her graded debut Jan. 2, the $100,000 Old Hat Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park.
Swagger Jagger, Lira, Ballet Diva, Rafting, Full Salute, and Bella Flor all won races on the program that featured six stakes for 2-year-olds Nov. 28.
Ekati's Phaeton wouldn't be denied in her bid for a first stakes victory, holding off R Sassy Lass through the stretch to take the $100,000 Old Hat (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park by a half length Jan. 3.
When Ekati's Phaeton goes to the post in the $100,000 Old Hat Stakes (gr. III) Jan. 3 at Gulfstream Park, the filly will be starting a fresh season as a 3-year-old.
Sweet Whiskey took the inside path in the $100,000 Old Hat Stakes (gr. III) Jan. 4 at Gulfstream Park, charging past stablemate and runner-up Co Cola in the stretch to notch her first stakes victory.
After closing 2013 with a runner-up finish in the Matron Stakes (gr. II), Sweet Whiskey will try to secure her first graded stakes win Jan. 4 at Gulfstream Park in the $100,000 Old Hat Stakes (gr. III).
Grade I winner Daisy Devine, seeking to snap a three-race losing skid, is a standout among six older fillies and mares entered in the $100,000 Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (gr. IIIT) on the turf June 8 at Churchill Downs.
Making her first start outside her native Brazil, Stud TNT's Old Tune showed an affinity for her new surroundings when she won the $150,000 Endeavor Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 2.
In her highly anticipated 3-year-old debut, Kauai Katie romped to an easy eight-length victory over Cor Cor in the Jan. 1 Old Hat Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park.
Kauai Katie is the biggest name of a loaded stakes day at Gulfstream Park Jan. 1. She'll contest the $100,000 Old Hat Stakes (gr. III) while sophomore males duke it out in the Gulfstream Park Derby and Spectacular Bid.
Multiple grade II winner Kauai Katie tops the names of horses scheduled to start the new year at Gulfstream Park, which has four stakes on tap for the Jan. 1, 2013 race card.
Dust and Diamonds produced a quick return on her purchase at auction in November with an easy victory in the $100,000 Sugar Swirl Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park Dec. 8.
After finishing second to Groupie Doll in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) in November, Dust and Diamonds looms as a prohibitive favorite in the Adena Springs Sugar Swirl (gr. III) Dec. 8 at Gulfstream Park
Gypsy Robin was an impressive wire-to-wire winner of the $250,000 Lexus Raven Run Oct. 20, blitzing to the lead at Keeneland and never looking back as she easily overpowered 13 sophomore fillies by four lengths.
Beaumont Stakes winner Gypsy Robin headlines a field of 14 sophomore fillies for the $250,000 Lexus Raven Run (gr. II) Oct. 20, including Killer Graces and Via Villagio from the West Coast barn of trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.
Book Review, disappointing when seventh as the second choice in last month's Test Stakes (gr. I), is the mild 3-1 favorite in the $400,000 Charles Town Oaks Sept. 22 at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.
Patricia Generazio's Tune Me In silenced his doubters Sept. 1 at Monmouth Park when he shook free to win the $99,000 Cliff Hanger Stakes (gr. IIIT), his second straight graded stakes score in less than three months.
Contested, a grade I winner who was last in her most recent start, will attempt to regain winning form and earn her most lucrative victory to date when competing in the $500,000 Test Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 25 at Saratoga.
Nine 3-year-old filly sprinters, including the top two finishers from the Leave Me Alone Stakes, have been entered for the $150,000 Azalea Stakes (gr. III) going six furlongs on the July 7 "Summit of Speed" card at Calder.
Anita Cauley's homebred On Fire Baby cuts back to a one-turn mile at Belmont Park in the May 28 TVG Acorn Stakes (gr. I). The Smoke Glacken filly was a disappointing fifth as the second choice in the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I).
| Horse | Trainer | Breeder / Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Awesome Belle | Stanley I. Gold |
|
| Bet to Win | James P. DiVito |
|
| Quick Flip | Eddie Kenneally |
|
| Sabrina's Dance | Danny L. Miller |
|
| Sacristy | Wayne M. Catalano |
|
| Say a Novena | Edward Plesa, Jr. |
|
| Soft Whisper | David R. Vance |
|
| Yara | Juan Carlos Guerrero |
|
| Race | Track | Date |
|---|---|---|
| New York Stallion S. | BEL | |
| New York Stallion S. | BEL | |
| Irish Day S. | EMD | |
| Emerald Downs H. | HST | |
| Southern Truce S. | SA |
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