Kobiskie likes juvenile contenders on Summit of Speed undercard

Owner PTK LLC and trainer Dane Kobiskie will field a trio of contenders in the juvenile stakes races on the Summit of Speed undercard Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The connections will first be represented by White Gold in the $75,000 Cassidy Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, while Draft Beer and I Shod the Sheriff will carry the colors later in the day in the $75,000 Birdonthewire Stakes.

 

“All three of these 2-year-olds are pretty special,” Kobiskie stated. “I’m going to have a great read on them after this weekend. I could not be happier with how they’re coming into the stakes this weekend. They’re training tremendously and peaking at the right time. They’re sound and they're feel fresh, and they’re just getting better every day.”

 

White Gold dazzled in her May 6 unveiling at Gulfstream Park. The gray daughter of Exchange Rate out broke her rivals to set the pace, then ran off and hid in the stretch for a 10 3/4-length romp. Her final time of :51.62 was just two ticks off the Gulfstream mark set last year by Awesome Banner. 

 

“As of now I think she’s one of the best 2-year-old fillies in the country,” Kobiskie stated. “She just drew out and probably could have broken the track record that day. She was in her own element and I’m expecting that she’s going to be a big favorite this weekend.”

 

Drawn in post five, White Gold will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione.

 

In order to maintain her pristine record in the Cassidy, White Gold will have to contend with Stonestreet Stables’ Perfect Kay, who showed good early foot herself in taking her five-furlong debut at Gulfstream on June 3. 

 

“Her first race was fabulous. She broke running,” trainer David Fawkes said. “The nice thing about her is that if she’s not right on the lead, she’s not a panic-type. She sat inside the other horse going into the turn. Once she got her nose in front, it was over.”

 

A Florida-bred daughter of Kantharos, Perfect Kay was acquired for $115,000 in April at the OBS Sale. The fast filly has continued to train well for her date in the Cassidy, most recently covering a half-mile in :47.49 on Sunday.

 

“She had a fabulous breeze the other day,” Fawkes added. “I was thrilled.”

 

Fawkes will also saddle Cajun Delta Dawn, another daughter of Kantharos, in the Cassidy. Curtis Mikkelsen’s filly battled her way to victory on June 10 over a sloppy track, and could exceed initial expectations once more.

 

“I was pleasantly surprised,” Fawkes admitted. “At the eighth-pole, I thought she had enough, but Juan (Leyva) said that once the other horse cleared the blinkers and she could see her again, she came back and beat her.”

 

Cajun Delta Dawn drew post two and will have the services of Juan Leyva, while Perfect Kay will be next door in the three hole. She will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione.

 

Magic Stables’ Lirica emerged from her runner-up finish to Perfect Kay to graduate at Gulfstream on June 23 for trainer Antonio Sano. 

 

The Cassidy is rounded out by Malisa, Patrona, India Mantuana and Music Makes Sense.

 

Carded as the seventh race on the Summit of Speed program, the $75,000 Birdonthewire Stakes could turn into a two-horse contest for the Kobiskie barn, with both I Shod the Sheriff and Draft Beer meriting serious consideration in the 5 1/2-furlong test for juveniles.

 

I Shod the Sheriff was the first to make his mark when he turned in a poised performance under Juan Gomez on April 28 at Gulfstream Park for PTK and Kobiskie.

 

"We loved that horse first time out,” Kobiskie said. “I was super impressed with the way he did it. He looked pretty good and went ahead and took over the lead, but then the rider kinda just sat there and waited until the quarter pole to let the other favorite range up to him. But he rebroke and drew away. You just don’t see that very often with 2-year-olds, especially first-time out going 4 1/2 (furlongs). He went on and drew out pretty easily. I was pretty happy.”

 

Kobiskie considered sending the Caleb’s Posse colt to Belmont for the $100,000 Tremont Stakes on June 11, but opted to keep the youngster at home for now.

 

“I do want to focus on South Florida because I’m based here and I thought the timing, a couple of months after he broke his maiden, kind of gives him a chance to freshen up and train into the race,” he explained. 

 

Draft Beer had a troubled beginning in his May 12 debut at Gulfstream. The son of Tapizar hit the gate, then rushed up to contest the pace before ultimately finishing second behind Francesco Appeal. He went one better in a May 26 test for Florida-breds and scored by 4 1/2 lengths.

 

“First time he missed the break by about five lengths and that opening quarter was pretty sharp,” Kobiskie explained. “He must have gone about 21 (seconds) to get up there. After that I knew he was going to fade, but once in a while, you’re right about how a horse is going to run. We had worked him out of the gate and knew he was going to break a little slow, but I thought it was a great effort and he showed great determination to hang on for second. 

 

“The timing of the next race was perfect, we were able to just jog him and do some light gallops,” Kobiskie offered. “We loved him (second time) and bet pretty hard on him. We were a little worried about having the one hole, but other than that I thought he was a lock.”

 

I Shod the Sheriff will break from post seven with Tyler Gaffalione in the irons, while Rafael Hernandez has the call on Draft Beer from the six hole.

 

Francesco Appeal, trained by Larry Pilotti for Monarch Stables, romped by 7 1/4 lengths when Draft Beer was tiring from his aforementioned exertions on May 12. The son of Successful Appeal has turned in three sharp workouts since his victorious debut, including a three-furlong blowout in :35.38 last Saturday at Gulfstream Park. Leading rider Javier Castellano will ride Francesco Appeal, who is drawn directly outside of the main competition in post eight.

 

Three Rules scored by 3 1/2 lengths at first asking on June 10 for owner Shade Tree Thoroughbreds and trainer Jose Pinchin. Jockey Cornelio Velasquez has the return call aboard the son of Gone Astray, who will break from post four.