(from Gulfstream Park report)
Joseph V. Shields, Jr.’s homebred 4-year-old filly Any Limit, dominant this season at Gulfstream Park, will bid for a sweep of the three major stakes races for her division as the favorite in Saturday’s $200,000 Shirley Jones Breeders’ Cup Handicap (gr. II).
Jockey Rafael Bejarano gets a return call on Any Limit for trainer Allen Jerkens in the seven-furlong test. The daughter of Limit Out posted impressive victories in the six-furlong First Lady Handicap (gr. III) on Jan. 20 and 6 1/2-furlong Hurricane Bertie Handicap (gr. III) last out on Feb. 17.
Any Limit was assigned top weight of 118 pounds.
Leading the eight rival fillies and mares challenging Any Limit in the Shirley Jones are Leah’s Secret, with Mark Guidry aboard for trainer Helen Pitts, and My Lucky Free, to be ridden by Joe Bravo for trainer Cam Gambolati.
First Klass Stable’s Leah’s Secret is a 4-year-old daughter of Tiger Ridge that has won five of 10 career starts, but was unlucky last out when fifth in the Barbara Fritchie Breeders’ Cup (gr. II) at Laurel Park on Feb. 17 when she missed the break in the seven-furlong test. She still came on to be beaten less than four lengths for it all.
Leah’s Secret was making her first start of the season for Pitts in the Barbara Fritchie after finishing up last season at the top of her game by winning the Raven Run Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland in October and the Anne Arundel at Laurel in late November.
Runnin Cardinal Stable and Ed Glasscock’s My Lucky Free has won five races with two seconds from 11 starts. The 4-year-old daughter of Mazel Trick ran well to be second to Any Limit last out in the Hurricane Bertie, her first start since chasing Leah’s Secret home sixth in the Raven Run at Keeneland, where she appeared not to care for the Polytrack surface.
$200,000 Shirley Jones Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II, Race 9, 4:54 p.m.)
Fillies & Mares 4 & Up, 7 Furlongs
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Sweet Fervor (KY), 114, Fernando Jara
2. Stormy Kiss (ARG), 116, Cornelio H. Velasquez
3. Any Limit (KY), 118, Rafael Bejarano
4. Sugar Swirl (ON), 114, Javier Castellano
5. Stolen Prayer (FL), 115, Rene R. Douglas
6. Amazing Speed (KY), 114, Cornelio H. Velasquez
7. Getcozywithkaylee (FL), 114, Christopher P. DeCarlo
8. My Lucky Free (KY), 116, Joe Bravo
9. Leah's Secret (FL), 117, Mark Guidry
