Ontario-bred Curlin's Catch Nets Kentucky Oaks Points

A pair of Ontario-bred fillies did well in the $150,000 Suncoast Stakes for 3-year-olds at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday, boosting their profile for the Woodbine Oaks in July.

Breeze Easy, LLC’s CURLIN’S CATCH (Curlin – Catch the Thrill by A.P. Indy) split horses turning for home and rolled to a 4 ½-length victory from Be Sneaky, with Ontario-bred/Ontario-sired Il Malocchio gaining third. Curlin’s Catch completed the mile-and-40-yard distance on the main track in 1:40.89.

She earned a lifetime best 79 Beyer Figure following her 71 earned in her maiden win.

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Trained by Mark Casse, Curlin’s Catch also picked up 10 points on the road to the Kentucky Oaks, April 30. Casse said the filly will stay on that path for now.

“Every piece is a step, like a puzzle, and you never know how they are going to react to the next level of competition,” Casse said. “I don’t think we could ask her to do much better than she did today. She comes from a wonderful family and I think we have to think a little about some bigger things down the road.

“(Jockey Antonio Gallardo) showed how good a rider he is. They kind of broke and came down on top of him at the start, and he sat and waited until it was time to really start running.”

The filly was a $180,000 yearling purchase to Nick De Meric sales two years ago, sold by breeder Sam-Son Fars. She was purchased last year for $430,000 as a 2-year-old in training at the April Ocala sale.

The Suncoast field was sharply shrunk when three favourites were scratched, leaving a field of seven. Curlin’s Catch ended up being the favourite at 8 to 5 off that handy maiden win at Gulfstream on Jan. 3. In two races as a 2-year-old, the bay was second in a maiden race and fifth in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes.

Antonio Gallardo rode the winner for Breeze Easy.

“Her last race (a dominating victory on Jan. 3 at Gulfstream) looked awesome on tape, so I knew she could handle the distance,” Gallardo said. “I had a lot of horse turning for home, and when I saw (rival jockeys) asking their and going nowhere, I was pretty confident. Everything worked out perfect.”

IL MALOCCHIO (Souper Speedy – Egbert Bay by Sligo Bay (Ire)), making her first start since she was third in the Princess Elizabeth, beating Curlin’s Catch, for owner Franco Meli and trainer Martin Drexler, got quite warm pre-race but stayed on well after a three-wide trip. She was beaten 5 lengths for trainer Ken McPeek who has wintered the filly for the owner and trainer. She earned a 71 Beyer Figure.

TV view of Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday Feb 6 – courtesy Cathy Wong

*In the featured stakes race at Tampa Bay, the $250,000 Sam F. Davis, Queen’s Plate hopeful SMILEY SOBOTKA faded in his season debut for trainer Dale Romans and finished ninth, beaten 22 3/4 lengths. The graded stakes placed chestnut was very sweaty pre-race and forced the pace from the rail before stopping. Smiley Sobotka has never raced on Lasix. The winner was CANDY MAN ROCKET (Candy Ride (Arg) – Kenny Lane by Forestry) who followed up a big maiden win at 6 furlongs at Gulfstream with a one-length win in the Davis for owner Frank Fletcher and trainer Bill Mott. The colt earned an 85 Beyer Figure.

Candy Man Rocket is from a 2-time winning mare who has had one winner from four previous foals. Candy Man Rocket’s 4th dam is the great broodmare Courtly Dee.