It was fourth time lucky for Koko Star as the Kitten’s Joy colt broke his maiden at Gulfstream on Thursday, May 7.
It was a third win in the US for owners Phoenix Ladies Syndicate with the three-year-old Mike Maker trainee following in the hoofprints of barn-mate Skye Snow and the Steve Amussen inmate Majestic Queen.
The victory also provided jockey Luis Saez with his fourth on the card with the rider keeping Koko Star just off the lead in the early stages of the one-mile turf contest. Travelling with purpose the colt’s natural momentum took him narrowly to the front on the turn for home. Entering the top of the stretch plenty of the field still had chances but under the urgings of Saez, Koko Star went into a narrowly lead. That advantage grew as the colt hit his stride in the final furlong and he’d go on to claim the victory by around two lengths.