Souper Zonda Goes the Distance in Daring Kathy Handicap

Rouki Outruns Souper Quest to Win Chasing Artie Handicap

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Live Oak Plantation’s even-money favorite Souper Zonda, pressed through a brisk half-mile by longshot Crafty Collector, had plenty in reserve to turn back a late bid from Defiant Lass and win Saturday’s $60,000 Daring Kathy overnight handicap at Gulfstream Park.

The Daring Kathy for fillies and mares 3 and older going 1 1/16 miles on the grass anchored a 10-race program that included the $60,000 Chasing Artie overnight handicap, a five-furlong turf dash for 3-year-olds won by Rouki.

Kentucky Derby (G1)-winning jockey Sonny Leon was aboard Souper Zonda ($4) for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse as one of seven stakes winners in a field of 10. The Florida homebred daughter of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin completed the distance in 1:40.13 over a turf course rated firm.

Souper Zonda came from off the pace to win back-to-back-stakes earlier this year including Gulfstream’s one-mile FHBPA Filly & Mare Turf April 25. Since then she has taken up front-running tactics that led to a determined neck victory July 19 at Colonial Downs and a second, 2 1/4 lengths behind another Live Oak homebred, Souper Williwaw, in the Aug. 22 Violet at Monmouth Park, both going 1 1/16 miles.

Leon hustled Souper Zonda from her post near the inside and she quickly settled into the two path, going the opening quarter-mile in 22.92 seconds and a half in 45.91. After being prominent early, Crafty Collector began to drop back on the far turn with Lets Go Koko on the outside and May 16 Monroe winner Turino up the rail moving into a challenging position.

Souper Zonda straightened for home in command and remained resolute up front as Turino was tipped outside to launch her bid in the middle of the track. Leon asked Souper Zonda for more and she responded, as Defiant Lass made a belated bid to place in her second straight stakes following a third in the Ginger Punch Handicap Sept. 12 on the Gulfstream Tapeta.

“She’s a filly with a lot of speed. She has a lot of natural speed. She’s really fast out of the gate,” Leon said. “She was always comfortable. She won easy.”

Souper Zonda won by 1 ¾ lengths over Defiant Lass, with Ginger Punch winner Miss Mary Nell another neck back in third. Turino, Lets Go Koko, Fantasy Performer, Vincey Girl, Hello Hello Hello, Crafty Collector and Janana Han completed the order of finish. Oshala was scratched.

John Eaton and Steve Laymon’s Florida homebred Daring Kathy, trained by David Fawkes, won eight of 19 starts and nearly $500,000 in purse earnings from 2014-16. Six of her wins came in stakes including the 2014 My Charmer (G3), Cellars Shiraz, Starfish Bay and Honey Ryder and 2016 Soaring Softly, all at Gulfstream.

Rouki Outruns Souper Quest in Chasing Artie Handicap

Winning Stables, Inc., J.P.G. 2 and Mr Pug’s Rouki, narrowly beaten in stakes on turf and Tapeta in his last two starts, hooked up with favored Souper Quest in mid-stretch and edged clear late to win the $60,000 overnight handicap by a half-length.

Ridden by Samy Camacho for trainer Gerald Bennett, Rouki ($14.40) covered five furlongs over a firm turf course in 54.80 seconds for his second career stakes win following the 2025 Turf Dash at Tampa Bay Downs, also with Camacho up.

“This horse is amazing,” said Camacho, aboard for 11 of Rouki’s 22 career starts including five of the 5-year-old gelding’s seven wins. “When I ride Rouki, he reminds me of Gerry Bennett. We have a lot of history together.”

Camacho was content to settle off a blistering pace of 20.88 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, set by Esperon, most recently third in the five-furlong Bob Umphrey Sprint on Gulfstream’s Tapeta Sept. 12, just a neck ahead of Rouki.

The gap narrowed on Esperon as the field hit the top of the stretch, with Rouki getting into contention in mid-pack. Camacho set down Rouki for a drive once straightened for home and was able to reel in Souper Quest, who has finished first or second in six of eight starts this year.

“He broke sharp and I try to stay close to the pace,” Camacho said. “At the top of the stretch I try to go wide and that’s what I did. I took him out, I go around and he ran them down.”

Mattingly finished third, followed by Esperon, Extendo, Full Disclosure, Itza Boss, Guns Loaded, Three Zero, Axthelm and Ajaayb. Naughty Rascal was scratched.

Chasing Artie had five wins from 12 starts between 2020-23, three of them coming at Gulfstream Park including the 2022 Bob Umphrey Sprint for owner-breeder Ken Ramsey and trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. Chasing Artie also won Keeneland’s Palisades Turf Sprint and Monmouth Park’s My Frenchman in 2021.