Kinsman Stable's Beacon Shine, winner of the Flash Stakes at Belmont Park, is among 973 2-year-olds eligible for this year's $1.2 million Florida Stallion Stakes at Calder, the highest total since 1987. First run in 1982, the Florida Stallion Stakes series is restricted to offspring of stallions standing in Florida and kept eligible to the program through sustaining payments as weanlings, yearlings, and 2-year-olds, the final payment made this year on May 20. Trained by Bill Mott, Beacon Shine is a son of Montbrook.A total of 117 stallions are represented by offspring eligible for this year's FSS series, including a number of promising freshmen, including Songandaprayer (23), Trippi (27), Prime Timber (26), Delaware Township (11) and Exchange Rate (19). Notable, in light of this year's 3-year-old crop, among FSS eligible stallions are Northern Afleet (22), sire of Preakness (gr. I) and Belmont Stakes (gr. I) hero Afleet Alex, and Lost Soldier (14), sire of undefeated sprint sensation Lost in the Fog. Both Afleet Alex and Lost in the Fog are Florida-breds. Among the veteran stallions represented are Florida standards Montbrook (31), Notebook (30), Halo's Image (24), Formal Dinner (17), Kissin Kris (11), Mecke (17), Robyn Dancer (15), Sword Dance (20) and Double Honor (18). Mares with foals on the list include Shocker T (filly by Yes It's True), Mia's Hope (filly by Halo's Image, a half-sister to Hal's Hope), Demetroula (filly by Sword Dance, a full-sister to Blazing Sword), Boots 'n Jackie (filly by Mecke, a full-sister to Supah Blitz), and Cellar's Best (colt by Kissin Kris, a full-brother to Cellars Shiraz).
