Booklet sunny in Florida

MIAMI - Any doubts that trainer Steve Klesaris may have had about Booklet adapting to the local climate and racetrack were erased Wednesday morning when the 2-year-old worked five furlongs in 1:01.60 in preparation for the $400,000 In Reality Stakes on Oct. 13. His black-letter clocking matched that of the older stakes winner Just Listen on Wednesday's work tab.

Booklet is apt to be the slight choice against the undefeated Carey's Gold in the 1 1/16-mile In Reality, the final leg of the open division of the Florida Stallion Series.

"I couldn't be happier with the way he went this morning," Klesaris noted early Wednesday afternoon. "He has acclimated to the conditions here extremely well. I wanted him to go in company and Luis [trainer Luis Olivares] accommodated me by sending one of his horses out with Booklet to breeze. In fact, I can't say enough about the way everybody has treated and helped us since we arrived here last week."

Klesaris shipped Booklet down from his Delaware Park base more than two weeks in advance of the In Reality in which he'll likely meet a full field of locals led by Carey's Gold who is seeking to become the sixth horse to sweep the Stallion Series with a win in the finale.

Booklet has captured three of his four career starts, his lone setback a third place behind Jump Start and Heavyweight Champ in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special. He has also proven his ability to handle a distance of ground when winning Delaware's one-mile Dover Stakes by nearly five lengths on Sept. 22.

Booklet was not the only Stallion Series hopeful to work on Wednesday. Blissful Kiss, a key contender in the $400,000 My Dear Girl Stakes for juvenile fillies, was also out for some serious exercise, drilling seven furlongs in 1:28.60. A homebred daughter of Kissin Kris and owned by John Franks, Blissful Kiss finished second and fourth in the opening two legs of the filly division of the Stallion Series but has yet to duplicate her awesome performance winning the J jsdream Stakes by almost seven lengths earlier this year.

A small but contentious field is expected for the My Dear Girl, which will also include Bold World, Ms Brookski, Pharmstar, Redoubled Miss, and Sweep Princess.

While the two Stallion Series finales top the $1.5 million Festival Of The Sun card on Oct. 1, the best race of the day may turn out to be the $100,000 Spend A Buck Handicap. It is expected to bring together Sir Bear, Best Of The Rest, Hal's Hope, and Dancing Guy.