Boca Boy ($26.20) upsets Breeze On By with In Reality win

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Breeze On By’s quest to become just the fifth horse to sweep the open division of the Florida Sire Series fell victim to a wet track, a tough trip, and a determined Boca Boy, who led throughout to post a two-length upset over the prohibitive favorite in Saturday’s $400,000 In Reality Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

The 1 1/16-mile In Reality highlighted an 11-race program which featured six stakes, including the final legs of both the open and filly divisions of the rich Sire Series.

Breeze On By entered the In Reality undefeated for trainer Ralph Nicks, having captured the six-furlong Dr. Fager by a length and the seven-panel Affirmed division by 6 1/2 widening lengths following a one-sided maiden win to launch his career early this summer. But after breaking alertly, Breeze On By was restrained off the pace of Boca Boy and found himself shuffled back in a precarious position between horses in the run down the backstretch.

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Meanwhile, jockey Edgard Zayas had Boca Boy cruising and relaxing on an easy lead. A distant third behind Breeze On By in the Dr. Fager, Boca Boy tuned up for the In Reality by getting in a two-turn prep on turf, finishing second going a mile in the Proud Man on Aug. 29. Boca Boy ultimately shook off a mild challenge from Gatsby on the final bend, settled into the stretch with a comfortable advantage and was able to maintain a clear edge over the 1-5 favorite despite drifting out some to the end.

Breeze On By commenced his rally under regular jockey Emisael Jaramillo after falling back to fifth position leaving the half mile pole, came wide advancing to closer contention into the stretch, lugged in a bit while not switching off his left lead until well inside the sixteenth marker and was unable to muster the necessary closing response. Seazan rallied mildy to finish third while never threatening the top two.

Cheryl Winebaugh, who was not in attendance, trains Boca Boy for owner Kenneth Fishbein. The winner completed the distance over a track downgraded from fast to sloppy in 1:46.34 and paid $26.20.

“I was trying to put my horse in a spot that would give him the best chance to beat Breeze On By,” said Zayas, the leading rider at the summer meet, which ends Sunday. “He relaxed really well for me on the lead, and that helped him a lot in the stretch.”

Lost in all the hoopla surrounding Breeze On By’s bid to sweep the open division of the Florida Sire Series was Princess Secret, who ultimately came within 1 1/4 lengths of winning all three legs of the filly division following her hard-fought and well-deserved neck decision over a game Restofthestory in the $400,000 My Dear Girl.

Princess Secret added the 1 1/16-mile My Dear Girl to her victory in the seven-furlong Susan’s Girl four weeks earlier. She dropped the opening leg of the series when finishing second, beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Go Jo Jo Go, in the six-furlong Desert Vixen, a race decided over a sloppy track, on August 1.

Princess Secret broke well, then was reserved early while a bit wide under regular rider Miguel Vasquez around the opening turn. She advanced readily outside rivals leaving the backstretch, engaged the pace-setting Restofthestory at the five-sixteenths marker, stuck her head in front turning for home then maintained a narrow advantage under vigorous handling to the end.

Restofthestory quickly sprinted clear from the rail, dug in bravely when headed by the winner in early stretch, fought on gallantly the length of the stretch before coming out second-best. It was another 6 1/2 lengths farther back to Big Rings, who finished a non-menacing third as the 6-5 favorite in only her second lifetime start.

Daniel Pita is both the owner and trainer of Princess Secret, a daughter of Khozan, purchased as a yearling for $30,000 out of the OBS 2019 October sale. Princess Secret completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.13 and paid $7.00.

“The pace set up exactly how we thought it would,” Pita said. “I thought she (Princess Secret) was going to be laying a little closer, but a couple of fillies went with her so I thought it was smart of Miguel to sit back and save the horse for the end. We’ve been working in the mornings getting her to settle and boy does she respond when she gets her cue. She’s such a fighter and has such a big heart.”

Pita had been confident coming into the My Dear Girl that Princess Secret would get the distance.

“She’s nice and fit and has been training phenomenally the last few days. I was confident she’d put in a big effort, but they still have to go out and run the race,” Pita said. “She shows up every single time.”