Glencrest Farm's Honey Ryder will face two of her toughest rivals when she tangles with Briviesca and Snowdrops in the $150,000 Orchid Handicap (gr. IIT) Saturday at South Florida's Gulfstream Park. In her most recent outing, Honey Ryder beat Briviesca by only a neck in The Very One Handicap (gr. IIIT) on March 6 at Gulfstream. In February, Honey Ryder finished fourth behind the winning Snowdrops in the Suwanee River Handicap (gr. IIIT), also at Gulfstream.
G. Howard Spink's Snowdrops, a 5-year-old daughter of
Gulch, is the Orchid's topweight, with a 117-pound assignment. She last ran on March 19, when she finished fourth in the Hillsborough Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Tampa Bay Downs. Edgar Prado, her rider for the Orchid, was aboard. Snowdrops' 2005 outings also include a third-place effort in the Marshua's River Stakes at Gulfstream.
Honey Ryder, a 4-year-old daugter of Lasting Approval, will carry the Orchid's second-highest weight of 116 pounds, and Darpart S.L. Stables' Briviesca, a 2004 stakes winner in France, will tote 115. Honey Ryder will be ridden by John Velasquez while Briviesca (by Peintre Celebre) will have Jerry Bailey in the irons for the 1 1/2-mile Orchid.
Also in the field is William Janulis' homebred Stormin' Diana (by Storm Creek), who captured the Florida Breeders' Distaff Stakes on March 21 during the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s annual day of racing.
Gulfstream Park - April 2nd, 2005 - Race 7
Orchid H. - Grade: 2
Estimated Local Post Time: 3:05 PM
Race Type: Stakes
Age Restriction: Three Year Old and Upward
Sex: Fillies and Mares
Purse: $150,000
Distance: 1 1/2 Miles
Surface: Turf
Post Horse Name Age Sex Weight Jockey
1 Honey Ryder 4 Filly 116 John R. Velazquez
2 Coquinerie 4 Filly 112 Jose A. Santos
3 Stormin' Daina 4 Filly 113 Phil Teator
4 Snowdrops 5 Mare 117 Edgar S. Prado
5 Pretty Jane 4 Filly 114 Brice Blanc
6 Ellieonthemarch 4 Filly 113 Cornelio H. Velasquez
7 Briviesca 4 Filly 115 Jerry D. Bailey
