My Pal Chrisy and Bad Debt were repeat winners in the Florida Million series at Calder Casino & Race Course Nov. 10, while Cash Rules led all the way to capture the $150,000 Carl G. Rose Classic Handicap.
Jockey Jose Lezcano won three of the eight Florida Million races, while Paco Lopez was victorious in two others. The Florida Million is restricted to registered Florida-breds.
Cash Rules, ridden by Luis Saez, scored by 1 1/2 lengths as the 3-10 favorite in the Carl G. Rose while carrying his speed 1 1/8 miles in a time of 1:54.15 on a fast main track (VIDEO). The winner, trained by David Fawkes for owner and co-breeder Larry Fugate, registered his fourth consecutive victory.
By Peace Rules out of the Silver Buck mare Cindys Sonnet, Cash Rules ($2.60) defeated four rivals in the Rose for his eighth lifetime win from 15 starts. He has earned $364,641. Cash Rules won the Spend A Buck Handicap (gr. III) over the track in his most recent race Oct. 13.
He's Spectacular was second with Decaf Again a distant third.
My Pal Chrisy, ridden by Luca Panici, romped by 7 1/4 lengths for a repeat victory in the $150,000 Elmer Heubeck Distaff Handicap (VIDEO). The bay daughter of Alex's Pal—Strike South, by Strike the Anvil, was sent off at odds of 6-1.
Owned by Tony's Investments, My Pal Chrisy ($14.40) is trained by Padarath Lutchman. Bred by Shade Tree Thoroughbreds, the 4-year-old bay filly has now won eight of 31 races while banking $375,068. Flying Trip was a distant second, a nose in front of 2-1 favorite Successful Song.
The final race of the Florida Million went to 9-10 choice Bad Debt, who squeezed between rivals under Kendrick Carmouche approaching the wire to capture the $125,000 Bonnie Heath Turf Cup Handicap by a neck on the turf (VIDEO). The stewards reviewed the stretch run but made no change in the order of finish.
Bad Debt ($3.80), who won last year's Bonnie Heath by three-quarters of a length, is trained by Michael Trombetta for owner Robert Leibner. A 5-year-old gelding by Grand Reward—Pleasant Ring, by Pleasant Tap, Bad Debt ran the nine furlongs on firm going in 1:49.95.
The win was the 13th in 34 races for Bad Debt, who has now earned $520,065. The winner was bred by Pennston Farms. Speak Easy Gal was second by a nose over Alley Oop Oop.
Lezcano scored his victories with Kanturk Kid ($20.60) in the $100,000 Arthur I. Appleton Juvenile Turf Stakes (VIDEO), Nicki Starshine ($10.40) in the $100,000 John Franks Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes (VIDEO), and Close It Out ($18.80) in the $125,000 Jack Dudley Sprint Handicap (VIDEO).
Lopez won the first two races on the Florida Millions card, with front-running 1-5 favorite Brave Dave ($2.40) in the $125,000 Jack Price Juvenile Stakes (VIDEO) and Crumb ($12.40) in the $125,000 Joe O'Farrell Juvenile Fillies Stakes (VIDEO).
My Pal Chrisy recorded a repeat victory in the Elmer Heubeck Distaff Handicap.
Coady Photography