Trainer Tim
Hills heads into Sunday’s $75,000 Blue Sparkler
Stakes with the 5-2 favorite Catch a Thief, and a little something else – lots
of confidence.
“She’s the one to
beat,” stated an uncharacteristically emphatic Hills. “That’s how I see it. When she shows up, she’s real tough.”
Tough indeed! Catch a Thief sports five wins from 10 career
starts, including three alone at the six furlong Blue Sparkler distance. A $25,000 2-year-old purchase, the now
4-year-old Catch a Thief has earned $201,000 for her connections. Two races back she racked up a graded stakes
placing, running third in the Sabin Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream
Park before a disappointing fourth at Belmont last out.
“The PP’s (past
performances) don’t show it, but she stumbled coming out of the gate,” Hills
said about his filly’s most recent outing.
“She grabbed herself pretty good, ripped her shoe half off. The race was over for her right after that.”
That was on May 8,
and since then the daughter of Flatter sports a quartet breezes at Monmouth,
including a nice four furlong move on June 19 in :48 3/5.
“She’s been training
great since her last race,” Hills said.
“I’m looking forward to a big performance from her.”
Catch a Thief’s main
competition looks like it will come from the inside with D’wild Ride (7-2 on
the line) drawing the fence and Bronx City Girl (3-1) coming from the two hole.
The Blue Sparkler
goes as the ninth race on Sunday’s 12-race program.