Florida-bred invaders from California, Kentucky and New York take a shot in eight stakes races worth $1.2 million to be run on Saturday's third Florida Million program at Calder Race Course.
Kagele Brothers and partners' Supah Blitz, Peachtree Stable's Flamenco and Barbara Vivian and Dominic Vittese's Aclassysassylassy are among the most accomplished runners on the card. Supah Blitz Homecoming in Carl Rose Classic
Supah Blitz will be a solid favorite in a field of seven 3-year-olds and up entered in the $200,000 Carl Rose Classic at 1 1/8 miles.Under trainer Manny Tortora's direction, Supah Blitz was developed and spent most of his career based at Calder before the 4-year-old Mecke colt was sold privately this summer and transferred to leading California trainer Doug O'Neill, who has sent four runners for Saturday's rich races.
The Carl Rose was won by Best of the Rest the last two years. Saturday's field could be reduced to six if Robert Dubois' Calder Derby (gr. III) runner-up Bob's Proud Moment opts for the Bonnie Heath Turf Cup.
Supah Blitz earned more than $500,000 for Tortora before he was sold. But he has flourished in California with a victory in the Del Mar Breeders' Cup (gr. II) and third-place finish in the Goodwood Breeders' Cup (gr. II) at Santa Anita. Jerry Bailey gets the call.
A dangerous rival in the Carl Rose will be Sez Who Racing's 5-year-old The Judge Sez Who, third in the race last year for trainer Milt Wolfson. The homebred son of Judge T C boasts earnings of $940,000.
$200,000 Carl G. Rose Classic Handicap (Race 10), 3 & up, 1 1/8 miles
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Dependable Herbie (FL), 112, Gary Boulanger
2. Keep Cool (FL), 111, Jose Alberto Rivera, II
3. Hear No Evil (FL), 112, Eddie Castro
4. Nightmare Affair (FL), 112, John R. Velazquez
5. Supah Blitz (FL), 119, Jerry D. Bailey
6. Bob's Proud Moment (FL), 113, Manoel R. Cruz
7. The Judge Sez Who (FL), 115, Cornelio H. VelasquezHopelessly Devoted, Redoubled Miss Clash in Elmer Heubeck
Liberty Stable's 3-year-old filly Hopelessly Devoted and Centaur Farm's 5-year-old mare Redoubled Miss are the ones to beat in a field of eight fillies and mares entered in the $200,000 Elmer Heubeck Distaff at 1 1/16 miles.
After being claimed for $25,000 in mid-December in her career debut, Hopelessly Devoted has been a dream for trainer Sandy Slivka this year.Cornelio Velasquez, aboard for her victory three weeks ago in the Calder Oaks on Festival of the Sun day, has the call on Hopelessly Devoted once more. After breaking her maiden for a $45,000 tag at Gulfstream Park in late March, the daughter of Storm Creek spent the summer at Delaware Park. She won the Susan's Girl Breeders' Cup and placed in the Delaware Oaks and Monmouth Oaks on the way to earnings of nearly $400,000 this year.
Redoubled Miss is in top form for trainer Ron Spatz after winning the Shocker T Handicap last out on Festival day with jockey Eibar Coa, who retains the mount on the homebred daughter of Adhocracy.
$200,000 Elmer Heubeck Distaff Handicap (Race 7), fillies & mares 3 & up, 1 1/16 miles
1. Hopelessly Devoted (FL), 115, Cornelio H. Velasquez
2. Redoubled Miss (FL), 117, Eibar Coa
3. Shady Woman (FL), 111, Manuel Aguilar
4. Alix M (FL), 114, Leroy Nelson
5. American Miss (FL), 114, Manoel R. Cruz
6. Sniffles (FL), 112, Eddie Castro
7. Sierra Lady (FL), 112, Anthony Gallo
8. Dakota Light (FL), 116, John R. VelazquezStormy Roman Defends Title in Bonnie Heath Turf Cup
Thomas Croley's homebred 5-year-old gelding Stormy Roman won the Bonnie Heath Turf Cup on Florida Million day last year and defends his title Saturday in the $150,000 event against a field of 10 going 1 1/8 miles on grass.
Jockey Manny Aguilar has the call on Stormy Roman, who ran well in stakes this summer at Monmouth Park but comes out of a seventh-place finish in the Cliff Hanger Handicap (gr. III) at Meadowlands for trainer Tim Hills.
The Bonnie Heath is a wide-open affair. Trainer Christophe Clement sends out Robert Kaufman and partners' 6-year-old veteran Proud Man. STD Stable's Sigfreto and Shawn Dugan's Grafton invade from California for trainers Doug O'Neill and Neil Drysdale, respectively.
Proud Man finished third in the Bonnie Heath last year, the son of Manlove shows a career record of 5-3-1-1 over the local course.
$150,000 Bonnie Heath Turf Cup Handicap (Race 9), 3 & up, 1 1/8 miles (turf)
1. Gin and Sin (FL), 116, Eddie Castro
2. Wire Bound (FL), 116, Julio A. Garcia
3. Sigfreto (FL), 112, John R. Velazquez
4. Grafton (FL), 116, Jerry D. Bailey
5. Proud Man (FL), 118, Cornelio H. Velasquez
6. Capias (FL), 114, Eibar Coa
7. Bob's Proud Moment (FL), 116, Manoel R. Cruz
8. Smooth Lover (FL), 113, Chris Morales
9. Stormy Roman (FL), 116, Manuel Aguilar
10. Final Prophecy (FL), 113, Carlos OliveroBuilt Up Opts for Jack Dudley Sprint
Raymond Susi's versatile 6-year-old gelding Built Up will return to sprinting in Saturday's $150,000 Jack Dudley Sprint at six furlongs after winning the Spend A Buck Handicap (gr. III) around two turns last out on Festival day.
Trained by Enrique Alonso, Built Up will be ridden by Eibar Coa in a field of 10. The son of Homebuilder bids to add to his $760,000 career bankroll. Built Up won the six-furlong Ponche Handicap at Calder in late May by over four lengths.
Built Up's most formidable rival may be Joseph Balsamo's 3-year-old Weigelia. John Velazquez, who rode him to finish second in the King's Bishop Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga for trainer Manny Azpurua, returns to ride.
$150,000 Jack Dudley Sprint Handicap (Race II), 3 & up, 6 furlongs
1. Love That Moon (FL), 116, Manoel R. Cruz
2. Swift Replica (FL), 116, Manuel Aguilar
3. Weigelia (FL), 116, John R. Velazquez
4. F J's Pace (FL), 113, Cornelio H. Velasquez
5. Built Up (FL), 118, Eibar Coa
6. Outstander (FL), 113, Heberto Castillo, Jr.
7. Lawbook (FL), 113, Cecilio Penalba
8. Scrubs (FL), 114, Eduardo O. Nunez
9. Sing Me Back Home (FL), 118, Eddie Castro
10. Onebadshark (FL), 116, Jerry D. Bailey
Flamenco Stands Out in Jack Price Juvenile
Peachtree Stable's 2-year-old Flamenco will be the heavy favorite under regular rider Jerry Bailey in the $150,000 Jack Price Juvenile, one of the most anticipated races on the Florida Million card.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, the son of freshman sire Dance Master won the Cowdin Stakes last out at Belmont Park after finishing second in the Sanford (gr. II) and Hopeful (gr. I) at Saratoga behind Eclipse contender Afleet Alex.
$150,000 Jack Price Juvenile Stakes (Race 8), 2-year-olds, 7 furlongs
1. Lucky Frolic (FL), 115, Jose C. Ferrer
2. Flamenco (FL), 120, Jerry D. Bailey
3. Closing Argument (FL), 120, Cornelio H. Velasquez
4. G P's Black Knight (FL), 117, Carlos Olivero
5. Hesa Big Star (FL), 115, Gary Boulanger
6. Derwin's Hope (FL), 115, Eddie Castro
7. My Buddy Richie (FL), 115, Manuel Aguilar
8. General John B (FL), 115, Eduardo O. Nunez
9. Dover Dere (FL), 115, John R. Velazquez
10. Buzzards Bay (FL), 115, Julio A. Garcia'Sassylassy' Wheels Back in Joe O'Farrell
Aclassysassylassy with regular rider Manny Aguilar aboard faces six 2-year-old fillies in the $150,000 Joe O'Farrell Juvenile Fillies at seven furlongs after her dominating performance winning the 1 1/16 miles My Dear Girl Division of the Florida Stallion Stakes on Festival day.
Trained by veteran horseman Dave Vivian, Aclassysassylassy swept the three filly divisions of the FSS and shows four wins and a second in her five starts. The diminutive roan/gray daughter of Wild Event was purchased for $32,000 at the OBS April 2-year-old sales and has earned nearly $400,000.
$150,000 Joe O'Farrell Juvenile Fillies Stakes (Race 5), 2-year-old fillies, 7 furlongs
1. Aclassysassylassy (FL), 119, Manuel Aguilar
2. Lady in Pink (FL), 114, Manoel R. Cruz
3. Cut the Mustard (FL), 114, Dale V. Beckner
4. Lady Ana L (FL), 114, John R. Velazquez
5. Frosty Royalty (FL), 114, Carlos Olivero
6. Running Bobcats (FL), 116, Julio A. Garcia
7. Peace Offering (FL), 114, Jerry D. BaileyJohn Franks, Arthur Appleton Juvenile Turf Stakes Make Debut
New to the Florida Million program this year are the $100,000 John Franks Juvenile Fillies Turf and $100,000 Arthur Appleton Juvenile Turf, companion races for 2-year-olds run at 1 1/16 miles on grass.
Glen Hill Farm's homebred Rich in Spirit invades from Kentucky for the John Franks with Javier Castellano getting the call in the full field of 12. Trained by Tom Proctor, the daughter of Repriced has won both of her starts on turf at Arlington Park and Keeneland. Michael Sherman's Eastern Sand with Sebastian Madrid aboard will be among the choices in a field of 11 set for the Arthur Appleton, simply because he has beaten a number of his rivals already.
Trained by Angel Salinas, the homebred son of Line In The Sand showed some ability in three starts on the main track, but hit another gear when trying turf for the first time last out with a big stretch rally to win an allowance race.
$100,000 John Franks Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes (Race 6), 2-year-old fillies, 1 1/16 miles (turf
1. So Delicious (FL), 110, Heberto Castillo, Jr.
2. Dansetta Light (FL), 119, John R. Velazquez
3. Wise Briana (FL), 114, Eibar Coa
4. Yes It's Gold (FL), 114, Jerry D. Bailey
5. Quick Queen (FL), 112, Cornelio H. Velasquez
6. Silver Stage (FL), 114, Eduardo O. Nunez
7. Book the Bullet (FL), 114, Gary Boulanger
8. Sunny Isles Beauty (FL), 114, C. Omar Klinger
9. Velvet Hope (FL), 114, Eddie Castro
10. Those Littlethings (FL), 114, Julio A. Garcia
11. Rich in Spirit (FL), 114, Javier Castellano
12. Flota (FL), 114, Manoel R. Cruz$100,000 Arthur I. Appleton Juvenile Turf Stakes (Race 12), 2-year-old, 1 1/16 miles (turf)
1. Turk's Ransom (FL), 115, Cornelio H. Velasquez
2. Right Hand Man (FL), 115, Javier Castellano
3. Do Run Run (FL), 115, Eibar Coa
4. Raleigh Express (FL), 113, C. Omar Klinger
5. Dazzling Dr. Cevin (FL), 115, John R. Velazquez
6. Dark Indulgence (FL), 115, Gary Boulanger
7. Willow O Wisp (FL), 115, Phil Teator
8. Corporate Player (FL), 115, Eddie Castro
9. Eastern Sand (FL), 115, Sebastian O. Madrid
10. Buzzards Bay (FL), 115, Julio A. Garcia
Main Track Only
11. Cherokee Chase (FL), 115, Jose C. Ferrer