Old Hat

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A field of 11 newly turned three-year-old fillies has been entered in
Saturday’s $100,000 Old Hat S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park, and seven are bringing
unbeaten records into the six-furlong test. While not all will exit with their
undefeated lines intact, we’re tabbing DANCES WITH ASHLEY (Wildcat Heir) to keep
her mark perfect while making her stakes debut.

Trained by the high-percentage Marty Wolfson, the chestnut lass broke
her maiden over Calder’s turf on November 7, only earning an 86 BRIS Speed
rating and 88 BRIS E2 Pace figure. However, the filly took it to the next level
in her dirt bow next out, capturing an allowance going 5 1/2 furlongs under
jockey Julien Leparoux, who returns for this foray. In that test, Dances With
Ashley tracked the early pace while running along the rail in second, angled to
the outside of the leader rounding the turn and took off in the stretch run,
finishing four lengths clear on the wire. That impressive effort earned the lass
a 100 Speed rating, 102 E2 Pace number and our support in the Old Hat.

CARPHONIC (Lion Heart) also enters this event after capturing her initial two
starts at Calder. The Bill White runner was an 8 1/4-length maiden winner in
October and added the Joe O’Farrell Juvenile Fillies to her line in
mid-November. Each of those wins netted the chestnut a 93 Speed figure, and
she’s been working bullets at Calder in preparation for her return. Carphonic
will get a jockey switch to John Velazquez, which can only help her chances in
this one.

CUFF ME (Officer) dominated maiden and allowance rivals at Belmont Park,
scoring by a total 19 1/2 lengths over a sloppy, sealed track in her two outings. She
entered Aqueduct’s Silent Turn S. last out as the 1-5 favorite and didn’t
disappoint, pulling away late to score by two lengths under Ramon Dominguez, who
has the return call. The Tony Dutrow charge appears the one to beat in the Old
Hat, but we’re willing to take a shot against at probable low odds as she’ll be
running outside of New York for the first time.

FEMALE DRAMA (Indian Charlie) will also be racing outside of the Empire State
for the initial time when going in the Old Hat. The Todd Pletcher trainee broke
her maiden, then was victorious in the Wings of Jove S., both at Belmont Park.
Each of those starts resulted in impressive E1 (100, 100) and E2 (104, 105) Pace
numbers, and the bay miss wouldn’t have to improve all that much to make a run
for the top spot. Rajiv Maragh retains the mount. JOANIE’S CATCH (First Tour)
also has a shot at the winner’s circle. The most experienced runner in this field
with 13 lifetime starts already under her girth, the chestnut filly hasn’t had
her photo taken since scoring in the Brave Raj S. at Calder in late September.
She just missed by a neck in the Sandpiper S. last out, though, and is the only
one in this field who had run at Gulfstream.

We’re giving RICHIEGIRLGONEWILD (Wildcat Heir) a chance for a top-three
placing based on the fact that she’ll be getting Lasix for the first time. The
Larry Rivelli filly captured an allowance at Charles Town last out by three
lengths and will keep Tim Thornton in the irons. MY JEN (Fusaichi Pegasus)
appeared to be a synthetic specialist after taking her first two starts on the
Polytrack at Turfway Park and Keeneland, but proved her worth on dirt last out
with a nose victory in the Letellier Memorial S. at Fair Grounds. She could grab
part here under Eddie Castro. MALIBU LEGACY (Malibu Moon) will be making her
stakes bow in this spot after capturing her initial two races and her numbers
are comparable with others in here. Consider for the bottom of the gimmicks.

CRIOLLA BONITA (Lightnin N Thunder) has been playing musical barns of late
while winning her last three, but might not be fast enough to keep up with
others in here. SOUTHERN TRUTH (Yes It’s True) will try to take this one all the
way to the wire, but the abundance of other early runners makes that appear
unlikely. We’ll take a stand against. TOUCHING BEAUTY (Tapit) rallied to be second
behind Cuff Me in the Silent Turn last out, but we can’t see her doing that
here.