The Grade 3, $100,000 Old Hat one of five stakes races on the January 2 card at Gulfstream features a field of six newly-turned three year-old fillies set to contest the six furlong sprint on the main track.
Lucy N Ethel, the 8/5 morning line favorite will break from post 5 for trainer Ramon Preciado after starting her career 2 for 2 as a juvenile, including a last-out score in a December 8 allowance score at Parx. Racing for the first time outside the Philadelphia track, the daughter of During will be facing tougher rivals in the Old Hat, but boasts speed figures that suggest she’s up to the task. Jockey Joshua Navarro will be in the irons.
The experienced Ballet Diva (9/5) draws the rail for trainer Stanley Gold while making the seventh start of her career. The four-time winner has won a trio of stakes including the Cassidy, Susan’s Girl Stakes for Florida-breds, and the House Party Stakes. The Old Hat represents her first try against graded company, but the daughter of Hear No Evil should be able to leverage her racing experience and affinity for the Gulfstream surface (three wins in five starts) to her advantage. Regular rider Jose Caraballo will be in the irons once again.
Dad’s Kiddo (3/1) will break from post three for trainer Dane Kobiskie while seeking her first win outside of maiden company. Despite a single victory in four starts, the daughter of Proud Citizen proved her quality finishing second to Ballet Diva in the House Party Stakes November 28.
The Grade 2 $1.25 million Pennsylvania Derby features the two biggest names from the Triple Crown trail September 24 at Parx as a field of 12 gathers in one of the most intriguing betting races of the year.
The $1 million Cotillion Stakes September 24 at Parx features a true clash of the titans as the six-horse field is headlined by the undefeated, five-time grade 1 winner Songbird who figures to face the most stern challenge of her career.
In a completely wide open renewal of the Presque Isle Mile September 18 at Presque Isle Downs, 13 runners including the also-eligible will contest the eight furlong trip over synthetic footing.
Champion Songbird is set to make her much-anticipated return to the races in the $200,000 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita on Saturday. The Grade 2 event will be run at a mile and a sixteenth and has attracted a field of seven.
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