Streaking Goldy Espony Headlines La Prevoyante

The streaking Goldy Espony is scheduled to headline a cast of 12 fillies and mares for $100,000 La Prevoyante Handicap (G3), which will be run as the finale on Saturday’s 11-race card at Gulfstream Park. After making a promising start in her native France, where she won the Prix Penelope (G3), the gray filly has blossomed this season as a 4-year-old for trainer Chad Brown and owners Swift Thoroughbreds and Bradley Thoroughbreds.

 

She posted a pair of wire-to-wire victories at Belmont before scoring in the same fashion at Saratoga in the $200,000 Waya Stakes (G3) on Aug. 8 but didn’t get to the front in the $200,000 Glens Falls Stakes (G3) at Saratoga Sept. 5, fading to ninth. She resumed her speedy ways in her latest, the $200,000 Long Island Handicap (G3) at Aqueduct Nov. 7, and Brown believes her good run of form will continue in the La Prevoyante.

 

“She’s been training well since she got down to Florida,” Brown said. “She ran a big race at Aqueduct last time and she’s been doing well since.”

 

Most European runners are known for their finishing kicks, which makes the front-running Goldy Espony an anomaly.

 

“We’ve found that to be her preferred style,” Brown added. “She’s developed nicely. She had some good form in Europe so we’re not surprised she’s reached this level here, but it just took some figuring out of what she likes to do. She does like to go to the front.”

 

Drawn on the far outside, the 121-pound highweight will have the services of leading rider Javier Castellano. 

 

Brown will have two additional representatives in the 47th running of the La Prevoyante, Landaluce Educe Stables’ Rosalind and Highclere America and Robert Barnett’s Cay Dancer. Rosalind, heroine of the Sheepshead Bay Handicap (G2) in the spring, finished third in the $500,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1) Oct. 18 but never threatened when ninth behind her stablemate in the Long Island.

 

“She got a little bit out of position and had a bit of a wide trip—it just didn’t work out for her,” Brown explained. “She’s been training well since. This will most likely be her final career start, so hopefully she can go out on a high note. We’ll just let her place herself where she’s comfortable.” 

 

Rosalind will be ridden by Edgard Zayas and will carry 117 pounds from Post 7. Cay Dancer drew just to the inside of Rosalind and will carry 117 pounds, including jockey Tyler Gaffalione.

 

Trainer Christophe Clement will have three entrants in hopes of winning his sixth career La Prevoyante. Highland Yard’s Walk Close, a regally bred daughter of Tapit, captured the Modesty Handicap (G3) at Arlington in July but didn’t face the starter again until the Long Island, in which she finished a troubled sixth. Trophee, a half-sister to the outstanding French runner Treve, has been knocking at the door since being stretched out in distance. Now owned by Bridlewood Farm, the 4-year-old filly has been fourth in each of her last two starts, the Dowager Stakes (G3) at Keeneland and the Red Carpet Handicap (G3) at Del Mar Nov. 21. The Clement trio is rounded out by Maximova, who was runner-up to Rosalind in the Sheepshead Bay. She is coming off a third to next-out winner Tuttipaesi in the Suffolk Distaff Turf Oct. 3.

 

The La Prevoyante will mark Gotachancetodance’s return to Gulfstream for the first time since her eventful career debut on April 22. The daughter of English Channel looked home free that afternoon but dumped rider Edgar Zayas in deep stretch while veering into the inner rail. However, since that wayward display, Gotachancetodance has proven to be a consistent performer while steadily moving up the class ladder. She finished second by a head to fellow La Prevoyante hopeful Trophee when stepped up to 11 furlongs in an allowance at Saratoga Aug. 19 and followed that with a two-length success going 1 1/4 miles on the turf at Belmont Oct. 7. The 4-year-old filly acquitted herself well in her initial stakes company when she rallied to get third behind Goldy Espony in the Long Island. Leading trainer Todd Pletcher conditions Gotachancetodance for Joan Pletcher and Terry Scatuorchio.

 

“She’s improved a lot since she jumped over the inside rail here in her first start last spring,” Pletcher said. “She has steadily improved, like a lot of the English Channels, as she’s gotten a little older, and I think she appreciated the added distance last time. So we’re looking forward to a good effort from her.”

 

Gotachancetodance is in with a 115-pound impost in the La Prevoyante and will be ridden by Luis Saez.

 

Glen Hill Farm’s Promotional will be the lone 3-year-old in the field. A half-sister to multi-millionaire Marketing Mix, the Florida-bred is making a quick turnaround from the Tropical Park Oaks last Saturday, where she finished fifth. The Tom Proctor trainee was assigned 112 pounds and will be ridden by Brian Pedroza. She will break from post 10.