Kauai Katie rolls again in G2 Forward Gal

Malibu Moon’s Kauai Katie left her foes far behind in the stretch run of the Forward Gal S. (G2) Saturday at Gulfstream Park, drawing off to win by 5 1/2-lengths in the seven furlong contest for 3-year-old fillies. The winner keyed a Spendthrift stallion exacta, with Tiz Wonderful’s My Happy Face rallying to finish a clear second. (VIDEO)

Malibu Moon, who finished 2012 ranked sixth on the General Sire List, has gotten off to a tremendous start in 2013, with three stakes winners already this month. Likewise, Tiz Wonderful has had a terrific January, with four maiden winners this month.

In the $200,000 Forward Gal, Kauai Katie wasted no time getting to the lead, springing out of the gate very quickly to go up a length in just a few strides. John Velazquez wanted to measure his mount’s speed, however, getting to the rail and covering the first quarter in a sensible :22.89. Longshot Pow Wow Wow put in a mild run around the turn, but when Velazquez shook his reins, Kauai Katie sprinted clear with ease to get the distance in 1:22.13.

Kauai Katie cruises in the G2 Forward Gal S.

“We thought from the outside post we’d be able to survey how the race went and she broke very alertly, was there (on the lead) so easily, there was no point in taking it away,” said Todd Pletcher, who trains Kauai Katie for Stonestreet Stable. “I think that’s it for her at Gulfstream with the next two at a mile and a sixteenth and a mile and an eighth. We’ll probably freshen her up a little bit with our main summer goals races like the Prioress S. (G1) and the Test S. (G1).”

Kauai Katie has now won five of six starts, with four of the victories coming in stakes: Matron S. (G2), Adirondack S. (G2), and Old Hat S. (G3). She has earned $588,000. Out of the stakes winner More Than Pretty, Kauai Katie is a half-sister to Rancho Bernando H. (G3) winner Winding Way.