Fair Grounds shipper Cape Hope heads into Saturday's $100,000 Herecomesthebride (gr. IIIT) as the one to beat in the 3-year-old filly stakes on the Gulfstream Park grass.
The Dallas Stewart-trained homebred daughter of
Cape Town left her rivals well behind in the Gaily Gaily on the same course Feb. 20. She tries to do it again Saturday to a field that includes two she beat last time, Dynamite Lass and Paddy's Daisy. Eleven were entered in the 1 1/8-mile event.
Although crowded early, the late-running Cape Hope drew away from the field to win the Gaily Gaily easily and has won all three of her races since Stewart switched her to the turf in December.
Jose Santos takes the mount from Jerry Bailey.
Dynamite Lass ran second in the Gaily Gaily after leading with a furlong to go and has yet to run worse than second in four attempts on the lawn.
The Todd Pletcher-trained Paddy's Daisy will attempt to rebound from her third-place finish behind Cape Hope in which she tired after gaining the lead at the head of the stretch. It was only her second loss in six tries on the grass.
Second in the Caressing in her final start last year at Churchill Downs, Dynamist makes her 3-year-old debut for trainer Michael Dickinson.
Dansetta Light, who won the Tropical Oaks at Calder Race Course Jan. 1, and graded stakes-placed K.D.'s Shady Lady help make for a deep field.
$100,000 Herecomesthebride Stakes (gr. IIIT), 3-year-old fillies, 1 1/8 miles (turf)PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Dansetta Light (FL), 121, Eddie Castro
2. Mi Luna Nueva (KY), 115, Roberto Alvarado, Jr.
3. Grat (KY), 119, Javier Castellano
4. Dynamite Lass (KY), 117, Eibar Coa
5. Dynamist (KY), 117, Jorge Chavez
6. K. D.'s Shady Lady (KY), 117, Rudy Rodriguez
7. Character Builder (KY), 115, Manoel Cruz
8. Paddy's Daisy (KY), 121, Christopher DeCarlo
9. Cape Hope (KY), 119, Jose Santos
10. Royal Bean (KY), 117, Jose Velez, Jr.
11. Classy Charm (KY), 117, Jose Alberto Rivera, II
