Congrats mare Perfect in Hard Worker Stakes

Congrats mare Perfect Step has stretched her winning streak to four on end after sweeping past the leaders in the LR Hard Worker Stakes (1000m) at Gulfstream Park.

Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado was content to sit off a hot speed set by R Free Roll and Angie’s Prim Lady before bursting to the front for an unchallenged victory in a slick 56.08s on Friday.

“The race played out exactly like it was supposed to on paper,” winning trainer Peter Walder said. “The two speedsters went at it and we picked up the pieces.”

Perfect Step (6m Congrats – Romance Dance by Vision and Verse) began her current winning run on turf in July and was dropping back from 1500m to 1000m.  “She can lead or come off the pace,” Walder added.  “She’s just a very versatile horse and loves this turf course.”

She became the 18th stakes winner by former shuttler Congrats and it was also a timely wedding present for Walder who tied the knot with fiancée Rita Santos over the weekend.

Perfect Step is a half-sister to Trippi stakes winner Four Left Feet and had opened her account in an Arlington maiden back in 2012.  Originally raced by owner-breeders Carson Springs Farm, she is now campaigned by Mathew Newman’s Aventura Stable.

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