Winngate Stables' Kathleen O. will seek to extend her undefeated record in Gulfstream Park stakes Feb. 18, when the 4-year-old daughter of Upstart returns in the $150,000 Royal Delta Stakes (G3).
Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey saddled Kathleen O. for three straight stakes victories during the 2021-22 Championship Meet in the Cash Run Stakes, Davona Dale Stakes (G2), and Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2).
The Royal Delta, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for older fillies and mares, will headline a 12-race program at Gulfstream Park.
"She ran really good here last year, so I have no problem with the mile and a sixteenth or coming back to Gulfstream," McGaughey said.
Kathleen O. rallied from far back to break her maiden in an Aqueduct Racetrack sprint before kicking off her 3-year-old season with a dominating 8 1/2-length triumph in the mile Cash Run Jan. 1. The Kentucky-bred filly made another impressive rally to win the mile Davona Dale going away by two lengths. Kathleen O. established herself as a strong candidate for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) when she stretched out successfully around two turns to capture the 1 1/16-mile Gulfstream Park Oaks by 2 3/4 lengths.
Unfortunately, things didn't work out nearly as well for Kathleen O. at Churchill Downs, where she dropped back to 12th in the early running of the 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Oaks before rallying to finish fifth, four lengths behind victorious Secret Oath.
"We got a little farther back than I wanted and we got in a little trouble in the lane and we only got beat (four) lengths for all of it, and most of that was the winner," McGaughey said. "Obviously, things have to go right in a race like that. It was kind of disappointing. I'm still disappointed over it."
Kathleen O. went to the sidelines following the Oaks and returned at Aqueduct Nov. 25 to finish a fast-closing second in the 1 1/8-mile Comely Stakes (G3), beaten by just a half length by Sixtythreecaliber.
"That horse just opened up on her. I thought we would catch her, but we didn't. I thought it was fine," McGaughey said.
McGaughey reported that Kathleen O. couldn't be fitter for her 2023 campaign.
"This is a new year. We have a fresh horse, which is what I wanted. We got one race into her back in November," the Hall of Famer said. "We've got the whole year in front of us."
Javier Castellano, the only jockey Kathleen O. has had during her six-race career, has the return mount for the Royal Delta.
Robert and Lawana Low's Classy Edition, who finished second behind Kathleen O. in the Davona Dale; and Gatsas Stables, R. A. Hill Stable, and Steven Schoenfeld's Midnight Stroll, a graded stakes winner during her 3-year-old campaign, appear to be Kathleen O.'s most dangerous challengers.
Imaginary Stables' Don't Get Khozy, Beth Ford, and David Meah's Jungle Juice; Gerald James and Hall Performance's Soul of an Angel; and J.P.G. 2, Mr Pug, Winning Stables, and Team Equistaff's Tap Dance Fever round out the field.
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, February 18, 2023, Race 11Entries: Royal Delta S. (G3)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Don't Get Khozy (FL) Miguel Angel Vasquez 120 Elizabeth L. Dobles 20/1 2 2Kathleen O. (KY) Javier Castellano 120 Claude R. McGaughey III 7/5 3 3Midnight Stroll (FL) Edgard J. Zayas 120 John P. Terranova, II 6/1 4 4Jungle Juice (IRE) Shaun Bridgmohan 120 Anna M. Meah 20/1 5 5Classy Edition (NY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 120 Todd A. Pletcher 3/2 6 6Soul of an Angel (KY) Jose E. Morelos 118 Gerald James 30/1 7 7Tap Dance Fever (KY) Jose C. Ferrer 120 Gerald S. Bennett 5/1
