By Christie DeBernardis
Dorothy Matz homebred Tequilita (Union Rags) won her last three starts in a row and looks to extend that streak to four Saturday in the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks. Off the board in her Laurel debut last summer, the Michael Matz pupil finished second in her next two outings and put it all together with a 1 1/2-length graduation at Keeneland Oct. 22. Earning her first black-type badge next out in Laurel's Smart Halo S. Nov. 19, the bay prevailed over Grade I winner Pretty City Dancer (Tapit) to score in the GII Forward Gal S. here Feb. 4 and enters off a best-of-95 half-mile in :47 2/5 at Palm Meadows Mar. 25.
“I thought she ran a big race,” Matz said. “The big thing is she's starting to wait and relax. We want to see if we can stretch her out to two turns, which I think she will. After this race we'll see which way we want to go, if we want to stick to two turns or stay at one turn. She's done well and she's trained well up to this. We'll just have to see if she can get the two turns.”
Repole Stable homebred Nonna Bella (Stay Thirsty) will attempt to remain undefeated here for a trainer who knows what it takes to win this test, four-time GP Oaks victor Todd Pletcher. Besting the reopposing Salty (Quality Road) by a neck in her unveiling here Feb. 4, the dark bay–who was further flattered when Salty returned to graduate by 2 1/2 lengths next out Mar. 5–made it two in a row with a first-level allowance score going seven panels at this venue Mar. 10. Her conditioner boasts a high success rate going sprint to route, especially at the graded level, with GIII Southwest winner One Liner (Into Mischief) and GII Rebel S. hero Malagacy (Shackleford) as the most recent examples.
In addition to Salty, trainer Mark Casse saddles a filly he has been itching to run around two turns, according to a Jan. 19 “Down the Shedrow,” in Gary Barber's Summer Luck (Lookin at Lucky). Earning her diploma at second asking in a one-mile test at Churchill last fall, the dark bay checked in third in the six-panel Old Hat S. Jan. 7 and was fourth next out going a furlong further in the Forward Gal. She was last seen making a strong late run to be a close third in the one-mile GII Davona Dale S. in Hallandale Mar. 4 and is cross-entered in Saturday's GII Fair Grounds Oaks, but is expected to run in this spot or could possibly wait for Keeneland's GI Ashland S. Apr. 8. Also exiting the Davona Dale is runner-up Jordan's Henny (Henny Hughes) and fourth-place finisher Modacious (Uncle Mo).
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
