BY GULFSTREAM PARK PRESS OFFICE (Edited)
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Live Oak Plantation’s even-money favorite Souper Zonda, pressed through a brisk half-mile by longshot Crafty Collector, had plenty in reserve to turn back a late bid from Defiant Lass and win Saturday’s $60,000 Daring Kathy overnight handicap at Gulfstream Park.
The Daring Kathy featured 10 fillies and mares, 3-years-old and older, going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the grass
Jockey Sonny Leon was aboard Souper Zonda for trainer Mark Casse as one of seven stakes winners in a field of 10. The Florida homebred daughter of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin completed the distance in 1:40.13 over a turf course rated firm.
Souper Zonda came from off the pace to win back-to-back-stakes earlier this year including Gulfstream’s $100,000 FHBPA Filly and Mare Turf going a mile on April 25. Since then she has taken up front-running tactics that led to a determined neck victory in a second condition, $50,000 optional claiming on July 19 on the Colonial Downs lawn and a second, two-and-a-quarter lengths behind another Live Oak homebred, Souper Williwaw, in the $98,000 Violet at Monmouth Park, both going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on turf.
Leon hustled Souper Zonda from her post near the inside and she quickly settled into the two path, going the opening quarter-mile in :22.92 and a half in :45.91. After being prominent early, Crafty Collector began to drop back on the far turn with Florida-bred Lets Go Koko on the outside and $82,000 Monroe-winner Turino up the rail moving into a challenging position.
Souper Zonda straightened for home in command and remained resolute up front as Turino was tipped outside to launch her bid in the middle of the track. Leon asked Souper Zonda for more and she responded, as Defiant Lass made a belated bid to place in her second straight stakes following a third in the Ginger Punch Handicap Sept. 12 on the Gulfstream Tapeta.
“She’s a filly with a lot of speed. She has a lot of natural speed. She’s really fast out of the gate,” Leon said. “She was always comfortable. She won easy.”
Souper Zonda won by a length-and-three-quarters ahead of Defiant Lass, with Ginger Punch winning Florida-bred Miss Mary Nell another neck back in third. Turino, Lets Go Koko, Fantasy Performer, Vincey Girl, Hello Hello Hello, Crafty Collector and Janana Han completed the order of finish. Oshala was scratched.
Souper Zonda improved to seven wins in 13 starts with a second and boosted her bankroll to $343,782. She is out of Zonda, by Scat Daddy.
Return to the October 10 issue of Wire to Wire
