Souper Zonda and Rouki secured victories in the Daring Kathy Handicap and Chasing Artie Handicap at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. The two winners delivered strong performances in the $60,000 contests, with Souper Zonda winning the 1 1/16-mile turf race and Rouki taking the five-furlong sprint. The results highlighted the quality of the Gulfstream Park handicaps programme.
Souper Zonda Wins Daring Kathy Handicap
Live Oak Plantation’s Souper Zonda won the $60,000 Daring Kathy Handicap after holding off a late challenge from Defiant Lass. Ridden by Sonny Leon and trained by Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse, the Florida-bred filly completed the 1 1/16-mile journey on firm turf in 1:40.13.
Souper Zonda showed early speed and settled near the front of the field. Leon guided her into the two-path, and she covered the opening quarter-mile in 22.92 seconds before reaching the half-mile mark in 45.91 seconds. Crafty Collector applied pressure during the early stages but began to lose ground on the far turn.
As the runners entered the home stretch, Souper Zonda maintained her position at the front. Turino moved forward along the inside before shifting out to challenge, while Defiant Lass produced a late run to contest the finish.
Souper Zonda responded to Leon’s urging and maintained her advantage to win by 1¾ lengths. Defiant Lass finished second, while Miss Mary Nell took third, a neck behind the runner-up. Turino finished fourth, followed by Lets Go Koko, Fantasy Performer, Vincey Girl, Hello Hello Hello, Crafty Collector and Janana Han. Oshala was scratched.
The victory added to Souper Zonda’s record of success in major turf contests. Earlier in the year, she won consecutive stakes races, including the FHBPA Filly & Mare Turf at Gulfstream Park on April 25. She later secured a narrow victory at Colonial Downs on July 19 before finishing second in the Violet at Monmouth Park on August 22.
Both of those later races were run over 1 1/16 miles. Her latest performance demonstrated her ability to maintain a strong pace and finish effectively over the distance.
The Daring Kathy Handicap honoured the Florida-bred mare who won eight of 19 career starts between 2014 and 2016. Trained by David Fawkes, Daring Kathy earned nearly $500,000 and recorded six stakes victories, including the My Charmer Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park in 2014.
Rouki Secures Chasing Artie Handicap Victory
Rouki delivered a strong finishing effort to win the $60,000 Chasing Artie Handicap over five furlongs on firm turf. Owned by Winning Stables Inc., J.P.G. 2 and Mr Pug, the five-year-old gelding was ridden by Samy Camacho and trained by Gerald Bennett.
Rouki completed the sprint in 54.80 seconds to record his second career stakes victory. His previous stakes success came in the 2025 Turf Dash at Tampa Bay Downs, where Camacho was also aboard.
The gelding settled behind the early leaders as Esperon established a fast pace, covering the opening quarter-mile in 20.88 seconds. Rouki remained close enough to challenge as the field approached the home stretch.
Camacho brought Rouki into contention in the middle stages of the sprint and moved him wide for a clear run. The gelding responded well and gradually reduced the gap to Souper Quest, who had been prominent throughout the closing stages.
Rouki edged past Souper Quest late in the race to secure victory by half a length. Souper Quest finished second, while Mattingly took third. Esperon finished fourth, followed by Extendo, Full Disclosure, Itza Boss, Guns Loaded, Three Zero, Axthelm and Ajaayb. Naughty Rascal was scratched.
The win marked another important result for Rouki, who had narrowly missed out in turf and Tapeta stakes contests in his previous two starts. His latest performance showed his ability to settle behind a fast early pace and produce a decisive late challenge.
Camacho had partnered Rouki in 11 of the gelding’s 22 career starts, including five of his seven wins. Their established partnership again proved effective in the five-furlong contest.
The Chasing Artie Handicap was named after the horse who recorded five wins from 12 starts between 2020 and 2023. Three of those victories came at Gulfstream Park. Chasing Artie also won the Palisades Turf Sprint at Keeneland and the My Frenchman Stakes at Monmouth Park in 2021.
Souper Zonda won the Daring Kathy Handicap by 1¾ lengths for jockey Sonny Leon and trainer Mark Casse, while Rouki secured the Chasing Artie Handicap by half a length under Samy Camacho for trainer Gerald Bennett. Both races offered $60,000 in prize money and formed part of Gulfstream Park’s 10-race programme.
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