Eight Take Aim at Gulfstream Stakes

After breaking her maiden first time out at Saratoga in July, Ready to Act had clear aim and clear track in front of her and was well on her way to a Grade II stakes win at Woodbine when she veered in sharply and lost the rider. Despite that, her connections ran her back in the Grade I Juvenile Fillies Turf at the Breeders’ Cup, where she finished sixth. Most recently, she raced in allowance company at Gulfstream, where she finished second as the heavy favorite behind Duff One.

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Rivals meet for the second straight time

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She’ll get a chance to both turn the tables on Duff One and pick up her first stakes win of her career on Sunday at Gulfstream in the $100,000 Sweetest Chant Stakes for three-year-old fillies running one mile on the turf. She’s been made the 5-2 morning line favorite for the race, while Duff One is slotted just behind her at 3-1. Prior to that allowance score, Duff One had tried three straight minor stakes at Belmont and Saratoga, getting a second in the PG Johnson, but finishing out of the money in the other two starts.

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Others could be ready to move up the ranks

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At 5-1, the Florida-bred Lemon Point has won two of her last three, with the only blemish a second-place finish in the Juvenile Filly Turf Stakes at Gulfstream, also run at a mile, where she lead all the way until being caught in the final strides to lose by less than a length. With a bit stronger finish, she looks to be a solid contender in here. At 6-1 Party Now is coming off her maiden win in her second start – she was second in her career bow – where she drew off at 1 1/16 miles on the Gulfstream turf to win by almost five lengths. A Tiznow filly, she could be primed for a big move forward.