12 Ene. USA. Old Hat S. G2. Gulfstream Park. 6,5f. Dirt. 150.000 $
1.- GAME FACE (J.Velazquez)
2.- MELISSA JO (K.Desormeaux)
3.- ORINOQUIA (J.Chavez)


It took a little longer than trainer Todd Pletcher expected for Game Face to find her best game. But there's little doubt the 3-year-old filly has gotten there now, following her eye-catching seven-length victory over Melissa Jo and seven other overmatched rivals in Saturday's $150,000 Old Hat Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Game Face ($8.20) needed three starts to win her maiden, drawing off to an easy 7 1/4-length victory in her 2-year-old finale. Pletcher had some reservations about stepping Game Face, a daughter of Menifee, right into graded stakes company off that win, but Game Face validated Pletcher's confidence with an even better performance in the Grade 2 Old Hat.

Allowed to settle off the early pace of the 6-5 favorite, Lovely Isle, Game Face, with John Velazquez riding, advanced boldly while four wide leaving the backstretch, readily overtook the tiring leader entering the stretch, and then drew off with complete authority through the final furlong. Her final time of 1:15.87 for 6 1/2 furlongs set a stakes standard.

Melissa Jo, who finished third in the Grade 2 Demoiselle to conclude her 2-year-old campaign, overcame trouble to finish second, 3 1/2 lengths in front of the 121-1 Orinoquia. Lovely Isle, who entered the race undefeated, faded badly once relinquishing the lead and finished seventh.

"I thought that was pretty impressive," said Pletcher, who watched the Old Hat from Santa Anita Park. "I was on the fence whether I was jumping the gun too soon putting her right into this type of race off a maiden win. But this was a filly we've always liked from day one. In fact, I was surprised she was beaten in her first two starts."

Pletcher said he also thinks Game Face, who is owned by Zabeel Racing International, will stretch out farther.