(From Gulfstream Park)
Dogwood Stable’s Lime Rickey and Char Mari Stable’s Beacon Hill Road finished second and third in the Dania Beach Stakes, respectively, going one mile on turf at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 17, and the two 3-year-olds meet again in the $125,000 Hallandale Beach Stakes on Feb. 14.
Thomas Conway and partners’ Jack Spratt won the Dania Beach by a half-length and is entered in the Hallandale Beach at 1 1/16 miles on turf, but listed for ‘main track only’ by trainer Mike Maker, who is waiting for an opportunity to test the Candy Ride colt on a dirt track for the first time in his career of six races. If the race stays on turf, Jack Spratt will instead go in the Fountain of Youth (gr. II) on Feb. 28.
Jockey Julien Leparoux rides Lime Rickey and is named on Jack Spratt if the race were to come off turf. A son of Lemon Drop Kid , Lime Rickey has hit the board in six of his seven starts on turf for trainer Frank Alexander.
Jermaine Bridgmohan rides Beacon Hill Road, who finished only a nose behind Lime Rickey in the Dania Beach. Trained by Jason Servis, the Kentucky homebred colt by Forestry showed a win, a second and fourth in his other three tries on turf before the good effort last out.
Padua Stable’s English-bred Duke of Homberg finished fifth in the Dania Beach with trouble in the stretch under Alan Garcia, who will be back aboard for trainer Tom Albertrani. The son of Kentucky sire Dynaformer was beaten only 1 3/4 lengths for it all in a good effort after finishing fourth in the Pilgrim Stakes (gr. III) and an overnight stakes at Belmont last fall.
Completing the field of 10 3-year-olds entered are IEAH Stable’s Into My Soul, Haras Santa Maria de Araras’ Tamborim, James Scatuorchio’s Swinging Bernie, Michael Strass’ Grace’s Spirit, Alex Lugo’s Adari and Jacks or Better Farm’s Sweetlandofliberty.