Waterford Farm's undefeated 2-year-old colt In Summation and William Condren and Michael Sherman's brilliant 2-year-old filly Running Lass will be solid favorites to win their respective divisions of the Florida Stallion Stakes (FSS) series Saturday at Calder Race Course.
In Summation has won all four of his starts going into the $125,000 Affirmed Division. Running Lass bids for her fourth victory in the $125,000 Susan's Girl Division for fillies, both at seven furlongs in the second leg in the three-race FSS series.
Saturday's 14-race "Juvenile Showcase" program consists of all 2-year-old races, including four other stakes worth $50,000 each – the Catcharisingstar and Fasig-Tipton Turf Dash at five furlongs on turf, and the Seacliff and Lindsay Frolic at one mile on the main track. Veteran horseman Frank Gomez has won a record 13 divisions of the Florida Stallion Stakes during the 24-year-history of the event, but he had to wait awhile for In Summation to give him his first in 14 years.
A son of freshman sire Put it Back, In Summation won the six-furlong Dr. Fager Division of the FSS three weeks ago by six lengths under regular rider Manoel Cruz as the 2-to-5 favorite. The victory was the first in an FSS race for Gomez since Naked Greed swept the three open divisions in 1991.
Purchased for $130,000 at the OBS March 2-year-old sales, In Summation cruised through his three starts prior to the Dr. Fager. His only test came when he won the Birdonthewire Stakes on Summit of Speed day by a comparatively tight 1 ¼ lengths.
Those with the best chance in their first try against In Summation appear to be Ralph Sessa's Blazing Rate and either of two trained by Eddie Plesa, Jr. – Bea Oxenberg's D.J. Best and Silver Rudd's Lucky Chief
Running Lass is a very fast daughter of Running Stag bred by co-owner Sherman's Farnsworth Farm and trained by Angel Salinas. She has not been headed before the stretch in any of her races and easily won the GTOBA Juvenile Fillies on turf and Desert Vixen Division of the FSS in her last start. Manoel Cruz is her regular rider. Francis (Skip) McDonnell's homebred filly Zooming By is the lone invader for this round of the FSS series, shipping in from Suffolk Downs where she broke her maiden by 11 ¼ lengths in her second start for trainer Jim Hartley on Aug. 15. Jockey Eduardo Nunez will be aboard.
Steve Dwoskin's Suggestion Lisa, with Abdiel Toribio aboard, and Buckingham Stable's A Sea Trippi, to be ridden by Sebastian Madrid, are rivals to be respected after winning their only starts impressively.
$125,000 Florida Stallion Susan's Girl Stakes (Race 10, 5:07 p.m.), 2-year-old fillies, 7 furlongs
PP. Horse, Jockey
1. Suggestion Lisa, Abdiel Toribio
2. Five Star Susan, Manuel Aguilar
3. Siren Cove, Eddie Castro
4. Running Lass, 118, Manoel R. Cruz
5. Zooming By, Eduardo O. Nunez
6. Pyrite Beauty, 118, Daniel Coa
7. A Sea Trippi, Sebastian O. Madrid
8. Prospect of Love, Juan C. Leyva
Each carries 118 pounds.$125,000 Florida Stallion Affirmed Stakes (Race 11, 5:40 p.m.), 2-year-olds, 7 furlongs
PP. Horse, Jockey
1. Saint Jules, Jose E. Lopez
2. Old Town Pond, Manuel Aguilar
3. D. J. Best, Jose C. Ferrer
4. Blazing Rate, Cecilio Penalba
5. Lucky Chief, Eddie Castro
6. Forever Fear, Chris Morales
7. Thanks Dubya, Julio A. Garcia
8. In Summation, Manoel R. Cruz
Each carries 118 pounds.