If all goes to plan, the reopening of the Adena Springs South stallion operation could kick-start a cycle of positive returns between owner Frank Stronach’s Thoroughbred interests in Florida.
The death of perennial leading Florida sire Wildcat Heir in January left a vacancy at the top of the state’s sire list, and the spot has been ably filled by With Distinction.
Change is in the air in the Florida market, and Kantharos could be among the young stallions poised to benefit. The unbeaten Kantharos, who is currently based at Ocala Stud, finished 2014 as Florida’s leading freshman sire, with 18 winners from 31 starters for total progeny earnings of $868,968. With a changing of the guard looming in Florida following the death of state stalwart Wildcat Heir in January, Kantharos also will be the leading returning juvenile sire in the state.
Although Florida sire Notebook has been gone for more than a decade, his influence continues to burn in the Sunshine State. The former Ocala Stud sire who died in 2003 led the Florida broodmare sire list for 2014, marking the seventh consecutive year he has been first or second on that list. The son of Well Decorated again edged two familiar rivals, Montbrook and Marquetry, to lead the category.
One day after the Santa Anita Handicap, racing continues Sunday at Santa Anita with smaller fields and lower quality. Sunday is a good day to take it easy. There will be more attractive wagering opportunities another time. For the sake of action, below are a few “safe” ideas.
Trainer Tom Albertrani turned frustration into elation in one memorable afternoon, sending out his first three winners of the Gulfstream Park meet on Saturday, topped by Ready for Rye, who posted a convincing 2 3/4-length victory over the odds-on Daredevil in the Grade 2 Swale Stakes.
Salutos Amigos may have earned himself a trip to Dubai after galloping to a visually impressive four-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap at Aqueduct.
On Saturday, trainer A.C. Avila said he will not appeal a 60-day suspension and $10,000 fine for a medication violation from 2014, and he has sold his share of the horse at the center of the incident, the stakes-placed Masochistic.
Super Saturday was super at least for Godolphin and trainer Saeed bin Suroor, who swept the last three races on the program, including a win in the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 with African Story, their 2014 Dubai World Cup winner.
Going to try a small ticket in the late pick four Saturday at Santa Anita, which, following the scratch of Chitu from the ninth race, leaves the sequence with two singles – CONQUEST TWO STEP (4) in the ninth and SHARED BELIEF in the Big Cap, race 11. Hoping to connect to a price in the first leg and potentially make the pick four return respectable; obviously CONQUEST TWO STEP and SHARED BELIEF will be singled on many tickets.
