Ahs Uncle Si seeks redemption in Sunshine State Derby

Ahs Uncle Si, disqualified after posting what would have been the fastest time during qualifying trials, will look to make amends as a prime contender in Saturday’s $200,000 Sunshine State Derby for Florida-bred Quarter Horses at Hialeah Park.

Third, beaten a half-length at 15-1, in the $100,000 Florida Quarter Horse Racing Association Derby going 350 yards on Jan. 17, Ahs Uncle Si was clear by a length after covering 400 yards in 19.29 seconds in trials for the Sunshine State Derby on Feb. 6. But he was disqualified and placed fifth for drifting in and impeding other horses.

Ahs Uncle Si will attempt to give Judd Kearl, Hialeah’s leading trainer for the second straight season, his fifth stakes win of the meet. He will break from the rail under Rodrigo Vallejo, the second-leading rider heading into the meet’s final weekend with 31 victories.

Ahs Uncle Si’s two chief rivals in the 400-yard race Saturday look like Fast Flyin Fireball and the filly Shes a Tourist.

Fast Flyin Fireball, who finished a neck ahead of Ahs Uncle Si as the runner-up in the FQHRA Derby, lacked room while trying to rally in the same trial as Ahs Uncle Si and finished a troubled fourth. He was placed third after Ahs Uncle Si’s disqualification.

Shes a Tourist won her maiden Jan. 4 when making her first start since July and came back to flash high early speed despite getting squeezed at the start before finishing second to Ahs Uncle Si in the trials.

The 10-horse field also includes the filly Burnin for You, whose 3-for-5 record includes a stakes win at Fair Meadows in Tulsa, Okla.