R Angel Katelyn seeks sixth stakes victory in Azalea

R Angel Katelyn is scheduled to seek her sixth stakes victory in the $75,000 Azalea on Saturday’s Summit of Speed card at Gulfstream Park. The Gerald Bennett-trained daughter of High Cotton is scheduled to clash with nine rivals in the seven-furlong stakes event for 3-year-old fillies.

Owned by Averill Racing, CCF Racing Stable and K Lauren Racing, R Angel Katelyn has been pace-involved in all of her stakes victories, demonstrating the ability to set or press the pace.

“She just has natural speed. She has a great mind. Nothing ever seems to upset her,” Bennett said. “She has great tactical speed, especially when she draws outside. She just sits there and see how the race unfolds. If you ask her, she’ll go.”

The Florida-bred filly was unable to employ her winning tactics in her graded-stakes debut after drawing the rail post position for the Adena Springs Miss Preakness (G3) at Pimlico May 19. Away a little slow from her disadvantage post, R Miss Katelyn was trapped on a dead rail and finished sixth.

“It was not the place to be. You’d have to break and use her to get her off the rail,” Bennett said.

R Angel Katelyn returned to her winning ways in her Gulfstream debut June 7, pressing the pace before edging away to a half-length victory in the Liza Jane overnight handicap. Edgard Zayas has the return mount.

Darsan Inc.’s Who’s The Lady is set for a return to Gulfstream Park after a couple of subpar showings out of town. The Kathleen O’Connell trained filly had won her first four starts, including the Any Limit Stakes March 28, before finishing 11th in the Miss Preakness and eighth in the Crank It Up at Monmouth.

Bluestone Thoroughbreds’ Brahms Cat, who finished an even third behind R Angel Katelyn in the Liza Jane, returns in the Azalea. The Larry Bates-trained daughter of Wildcat Heir finished third behind Tequilita in the seven-furlong Forward Gal (G2) during the Championship Meet. Javier Castellano has the mount.

Pinnacle Racing Stable’s Sweet Tooth Haven, who returned from a long layoff to win an entry-level allowance; and Magic Stable’s Lirica, a stakes winner at Gulfstream, are also entered in the Azalea.

Trainer Todd Pletcher is setting the bar high by entering recent debut winner Firefoot in the Azalea.

“She’s just had the one race and we just felt like it’s kind of an ambitious move, but she’s there, she’s training well and it’s an opportunity to maybe get some black type for her,” Pletcher said. “We feel like she could improve after not getting away great first time out and that hopefully there’s a move forward in her. The distance should be no problem.”

Owned by StarLadies Racing and Nexus Racing’s Firefoot captured a maiden special weight race by three lengths at Gulfstream June 4.