Courtesy of the TDN NEW YEAR, OLD HAT Stonestreet Stables celebrated New Year’s Day with a sharp victory by “TDN Rising Star” Kauai Katie (Malibu Moon) in the GIII Old Hat S. at Gulfstream. The dark bay sustained her first loss in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, but rebounded in style and was hand-ridden to an eight-length triumph. “She was impressive, ” said winning trainer Todd Pletcher. “She’s probably at her best at a little shorter distance than we tried in the Breeders’ Cup. Honestly, I don’t think she really handled the track that day, because as fast as she is, she was never pulling herself along.” Pletcher indicated that the GII Forward Gal S. at Gulfstream Jan. 26 would likely be Kauai Katie’s next start. Kauai Katie followed her brilliant July 20 debut with short-priced victories in the GII Adirondack S. at Saratoga Aug. 12 and GII Matron S. at Belmont Sept. 30. Stretched out to two turns for the Breeders’ Cup, the swift miss conceded the early lead to Beholder (Henny Hughes) en route to a fourth-place finish, but put matters to right yesterday at Gulfstream. Hammered down to 1-10, Kauai Katie broke alertly from the rail, but settled while racing in second, as previously unbeaten Cor Cor put up fractions of :22.22 and :44.99. The crowd’s choice moved by the pacesetter entering the stretch and opened up readily before being geared down late by jockey John Velazquez. “The three [Cor Cor] out-broke us, put us on the outside and it was really a two-horse race,” Velazquez offered. AI wasn’t going to let Cor Cor get away too easily, so I put some pressure on her. When I got to her, Katie pulled away from them and she made it easy for me. “ Kauai Katie and her speedy full-sister Winding Way were both bred by Spendthrift. According to Ned Toffey, Spendthrift’s general manager, their dam More Than Pretty was covered by Malibu Moon on Southern Hemisphere time and sent to Australia.