Wild Gams has strong kick in Thoroughbred Club of America

New Farm's homebred WILD GAMS (Forest Wildcat) displayed a lethal late kick

when powering to a 1 1/4-length score in Saturday's $300,000

Thoroughbred

Club of America S. (G3) at Keeneland. After rating near the back of the pack

early through splits of :21 4/5 and :45 1/5, Ramon Dominguez produced Wild Gams

in midstretch, and the Ben Perkins Jr. filly swept right on by to stop the

teletimer in 1:10 for six furlongs on the Polytrack. Sent off the 3-1 second

choice in the nine-horse field, Wild Gams returned $8.20, $4 and $2.80.

Sugar Swirl (Touch Gold) stalked the pace, found a seam between foes to

launch her bid and finished best of the rest, giving back $5.20 and $3.20 at

9-2. Another length back in third came the 2-1 favorite, Baroness Thatcher

(Johannesburg), who was forced to steady when in tight quarters along the inside

on the far turn. She managed to find room in the drive but couldn't contain the

top two, settling for the show spot, worth $2.60. The exotics were worth $42.80

(exacta), $128.80 (trifecta) and $508.40 (6-3-1-9 superfecta) with Mary Delaney

(Hennessy) in fourth. Lady Belsara (Boundary), early leader Hot Storm (Stormy

Atlantic), Time's Mistress (Mr. Greeley), Bluesbdancing (Golden Gear) and

Costume Designer (Capote) completed the order of finish, while Rich Fantasy

(Richter Scale) was scratched.

With this fifth career stakes tally on her resume, Wild Gams advanced her

record to 16-7-3-1, $678,171. Her previous stakes scores came during her

three-year-old campaign in 2006, courtesy of the Safely Kept Breeders' Cup S.

(G3), Cicada S. (G3), Eleven North H. and Oxford Scholar S. She has also placed

in three stakes, including last year's Prioress S. (G1) and the Presque Isle

Downs Masters S. last time out.

The New Jersey-bred was produced by the stakes-winning Diamonds and Legs

(Quiet American), making her a full sister to stakes victor Diamond Wildcat.

Perkins left the door open on the possibility of a tilt at the October 26

Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

"We're not allowed to make plans yet," the conditioner said. "I'll talk to

(owner) Mr. (Everett) Novak a little later, and we'll make plans. She will go

back to Monmouth on Monday.

"It would be a neat thing to do with the Breeders' Cup at her home track," he

added.