Kathleen O., Goddess of Fire Matchup in GP Oaks

Winngate Stables' late-running Kathleen O.  will put an undefeated record on the line when the 3-year-old daughter of Upstart   makes her two-turn debut in the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) April 2 after producing three late-closing gems around one turn.

Kathleen O. was installed as the 4-5 morning-line favorite in a field of seven after drawing post 7. Her principal rival in the 1 1/16-mile race is Goddess of Fire , runner-up in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes Presented by Fasig-Tipton (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Feb. 19.

"I'm looking forward to running her around two turns Saturday and see how that goes," said Kathleen O.'s trainer, Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey. "I think she'll run around two turns. She's never done it, but she's out of a Blame mare and Flatter   is A.P. Indy—that's all two-turn dirt. I think it will be fine."

The Gulfstream Park Oaks provides qualifying points toward the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs May 6, awarded on a 100-40-20-10 basis to its top four finishers. The race is one of numerous supporting stakes on Florida Derby Day at Gulfstream Park.

McGaughey has saddled four winners of the Gulfstream Park Oaks—Glitter Woman (1997), My Flag (1996), Inside Information (1994), and Dispute (1993). Dispute went on to win the Kentucky Oaks.

Kathleen O. debuted over a sloppy Aqueduct Racetrack Nov. 12, closing from sixth in mid-stretch to score by a head in a seven-furlong maiden special weight race. She was then ultra-impressive in her stakes debut at Gulfstream, capturing the Jan. 1 Cash Run Stakes going away by 8 1/2 lengths at a one-turn mile despite being shut off at the break. Most recently, the Kentucky-bred filly rallied from last March 5 to score by two lengths in the one-mile Davona Dale Stakes Presented by FanDuel (G2).

"She's doing fine at Payson. She's had two works since she ran. She worked Saturday and she looked good," McGaughey said. "She's kind of a big, tall filly right now, so I think she's still got some filling in to do. She seems to like to train. So far, so good with her."

Hall of Famer Javier Castellano has the return mount aboard the McGaughey trainee.

Red Oak Stable's Goddess of Fire enters the Gulfstream Park Oaks off a half-length defeat behind Turnerloose  in the 1 1/16-mile Rachel Alexandra. Goddess of Fire had previously closed from well off the pace to finish second in the seven-furlong Gasparilla Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who saddled Dreaming of Julia  for a victory in the 2013 Gulfstream Park Oaks, has awarded the mount aboard Goddess of Fire to Luis Saez. Goddess of Fire is pegged at odds of 9-5.

She is a half-sister to grade 1 winner Mind Control.

"She's put weight on from each race, she's bright-eyed and her coat looks great," said Red Oak Stable racing manager Rick Sacco. 

Augustin Stable's Catiche , cross-entered in Saturday's Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park, could make her stakes debut in the Gulfstream Park Oaks after a six-length maiden score at 1 1/16 miles over the Tapeta course March 6. Catiche has never won on dirt but has the speed to be prominent in a race lacking pace.

Irad Ortiz Jr. has the call aboard the Jonathan Thomas trainee, who is rated third in the morning line at 6-1.

The remaining four entrants—Running Legacy , Amani's Image , Blustery , and Cancel This —are 15-1 odds or higher on the morning line.

Entries: Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2)

Gulfstream Park, Saturday, April 02, 2022, Race 12

• Grade II
• 1 1/16m
• Dirt
• $250,000
• 3 yo Fillies
• 5:17 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Cancel This (KY)	Joel Rosario	122	Dale L. Romans	20/1
2	2Catiche (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	122	Jonathan Thomas	6/1
3	3Amani's Image (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	122	Fausto Gutierrez	20/1
4	4Running Legacy (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	122	Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.	15/1
5	5Goddess of Fire (KY)	Luis Saez	122	Todd A. Pletcher	9/5
6	6Blustery (KY)	Miguel Angel Vasquez	122	Daniel C. Hurtak	30/1
7	7Kathleen O. (KY)	Javier Castellano	122	Claude R. McGaughey III	4/5