Catch a Glimpse Returns A Winner In G3 Herecomesthebride at Gulfstream

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL –  On paper, Breeders’ Cup heroine Catch a Glimpse ($3.20) was the class of the field in the $150,000 Herecomesthebride Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park, and so it proved in reality.

The crowd’s 3-5 choice came away smartly from her outside post under jockey Florent Geroux and tracked longshot Vieja Luna through a soft early pace. Catch a Glimpse took over heading into the final turn, but drifted out a bit entering the stretch. Geroux straightened her out and the duo remained clear for a 2 1/2-length success. The 5-2 second choice Lira finished second to complete the $7.20 exacta, while 15-1 Gone Away edged Hold Harmless for third. The final time for the 8 1/2-furlong Herecomesthebride was 1:42.63.

“I was loaded [going into the far turn],” Geroux said. “Going into the elbow she pointed her ears and lost focus just a little bit, then she just galloped home easy.”

Catch a Glimpse earned her favorite’s credentials on the basis of a stellar 2-year-old season in 2015, when she was unbeaten in three starts on grass for owners Gary Barber, Michael Ambler and Windways Farm and trainer Mark Casse. The athletic daughter of City Zip collected Woodbine’s $200,000 Natalma Stakes (G2) en route to victory in the $1-million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at Keeneland.

She picked up where she left off in the Herecomesthebride, where she drafted off of Vieja Luna through opening splits of :23.96 and :49.10. Geroux let out a notch and Catch a Glimpse responded immediately. Despite the fact that she did not cut the corner in ideal fashion, Catch a Glimpse was never threatened in the lane and finished up smartly.

“I think she was going so fast around the turn she kind of bore out a little,” assistant trainer Norman Casse offered. “She’s still learning and not 100-percent professional.”

Catch a Glimpse has long been held in high regard at home, and Casse anticipates that she can continue to improve in 2016.

“She’s obviously very talented and she’ll get even better as she goes on,” he added. “It was good (return) and we’re excited to have her back, and we look to move forward from here.”

A $75,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland, Catch a Glimpse has now earned $767,562 for her connections while winning four of five career appearances. She was bred in Kentucky by Branch Equine from the mare Halo River, who is also the dam of the talented turf miler Old Forester.

Source: Gulfstream Park