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Perfect Night Remains Perfect In Steward's Cup Turf Sprint
Original article written by Marzy Dotes posted 14 years 3 weeks agoPerfect Night proved to be absolutely perfect when he swooped down the lane to defeat Iron Curtain by a length in capturing the $1.5 million Grade 1 Steward’s Cup Turf Sprint at New Orleans Park. The bay three year old colt ran the five furlongs on the turf course in a sparkling 0:58.80.
With this victory, Perfect Night is now undefeated in all 10 of his career starts and the son of the great turf sire Night Shade and stakes winning Perfectontheinside brought the crowd on its feet when he and rider Natalie Cochran returned to the winner’s circle for the award presentation. Bred and owned by Angela Dee Cochran, this sterling colt won all five starts during his juvenile season, capturing stake races in South America and Asia including the Singapore Juvenile Stakes and the Los Campeones Juniors Sprint. His excellent season earned him the honors of being voted the South American champion two year old colt.
Perfect Night continued his winning streak when he returned to racing this past season, winning his first start, the Stonehenge Stakes at London Gallops over Iron Curtain. He won three more turf sprinting stakes including the Oceanside Dash before he rested for a month in preparation for his big effort in the Steward’s Cup race with only a five furlong jaunt over the track a week before over five furlongs on the grass.
He was in tip top shape and ready to go when the gates open and Cochran settled him in the fifth spot while Sockie took it out and Iron Curtain joined him during the earlier stages of the race. Sockie enjoyed a sizable lead through most of the race with the other sprinters sitting poised ready to spring just behind him. In the last final furlong, Perfect Night uncoiled his lethal closing kick and left the rest of the field in his wake while winning the race. Iron Curtain finished a neck ahead of Sockie who captured the third spot by nearly five lengths over Anthem of Triumph.
It’s not clear at this point what the future plans are for Perfect Night but his many fans hope to see him come back next year to run more great races, and perhaps keeping his streak alive.