OCEANPORT, N.J. – Purrfect Bluff has been perfectly consistent since trainer Patricia Farro claimed her for $32,000 in late May.
A 4-year-old, Purrfect Bluff has run second in all three races since the barn change. The consistency also runs through her Beyer Speed Figures, tightly banded from 77 to 75 for the three starts.
Purrfect Bluff takes her fourth straight crack at a first-level allowance in the $80,000 feature on the 12-race Friday card at Monmouth Park that kicks off Haskell weekend.
It’s back to the turf, where Purrfect Bluff faces seven rivals in the five-furlong sprint
Purrfect Bluff tackled grass for the first time in her first two starts for Farro. She returned to the main track last time.
“We think she’s going to run good,” said Mike Farro who oversees the Monmouth division for his wife. “She goes either way. We figure the grass will be a little easier on her. She really runs the final quarter of a mile. It doesn’t take a lot out of her. Once she took to the grass, we figured we could get more races out of her if we can keep her there.”
Purrfect Bluff has been camera shy throughout her career, going 3-10-1 in 20 starts. This season, Purrfect Bluff is 0-6-1 in 9 tries.
The effort is usually there for the closing sprinter; the victories remain elusive.
“She runs well every time,” Farro said. “When claiming horses, you look for horses that try nearly every time you bring them out there. She was one of them. We have no complaints.”
An inside post could be edge that finally puts Purrfect Bluff over the top this year. She has the two-hole following a trio of outside slots.
“We lost a little ground all three times,” Farro said. “This might help us a little bit.”
Carlos Marquez Jr. has the return call.
Wardelle is no stranger to Purrfect Bluff, having finished third and fourth to her in two starts at the meet for trainer Henry Carroll.
Angel Serpa will again be aboard.
Pascal’s Paradox makes her debut for trainer John Tammaro III following a second-level allowance win over New Jersey-breds. She will be trying turf for the first time.
She’sa Tough Tiger needed her last start, a fourth-place finish after missing more than a year.
Yankee Empress, Fivecarrotsparkle, Requested Vow, and Bid Report complete the field.
