Carson Hollow, a New York-bred trained by Richard Dutrow Jr., won her first four starts including the Prioress (gr. I) over this course. She raced as one with You in the stretch run of a heart-stopping Test and just missed winning by half a nose.
"We're still floating," Dutrow said. "That was one of the greatest races I've ever seen. It was a thrill being a part of it."
While immensely talented, Carson Hollow has achieved the vast majority of her success against three-year-olds. Saturday, she faces an experienced group of older fillies and mares led by Gold Mover. Both Gold Mover and Carson Hollow share the 117-pound top weight.
"We're going to have to show up and run our race," Dutrow said. "I've got a lot of respect for Gold Mover. She's beaten Xtra Heat and has accomplished some nice things."
Jockey John Velazquez has the mount on Carson Hollow, who won the Prioress at six furlongs. Stronach Stable and Hemlock Hills Farm own Carson Hollow.Edward Evans' Gold Mover has compiled a 3-2-0 record from seven starts this year and has never finished worse than third in four starts over this course. A 4-year-old, Gold Mover was outfought by Xtra Heat in Belmont's Vagrancy (gr. II) in June, but turned the tables on that remarkable rival in Calder's Princess Rooney.She may have been feeling the effects of those all-out efforts, however, when failing to fire as the favorite in Saratoga's Honorable Miss (gr. III) in early August. A daughter of Gold Fever, Gold Mover has worked three times since the Honorable Miss and has run well off brief freshenings. Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey has the mount for trainer Mark Hennig.
$100,000 Floral Park (gr. III, F&M, 6 f.)
PP Horse, Jockey, Wgt.
1 La Galerie, Edgar Prado, 113
2 Shiny Band, Javier Castellano, 115
3 Carson Hollow, John Velazquez, 117
4 Gold Mover, Jerry Bailey, 117
5 To Marquet, Jose Santos, 112