Bullards Alley back for more in Pan American

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Bullards Alley has already made two trips from Fair Grounds to Gulfstream Park this winter, finishing second in the H. Allen Jerkens and third in the W.L. McKnight. Saturday, he will take on Sadler’s Joy, Bigger Picture, and six others in the Grade 2, $250,000 Pan American at 1 1/2 miles on turf. Sadler’s Joy won last year’s Pan Am.

Bullards Alley is getting a rider switch to Irad Ortiz Jr., replacing Paco Lopez, who was aboard for Bullards Alley’s two prior races here.

“The whole key to him is not to get in any trouble because he’s not very much on stopping and starting again,” trainer Tim Glyshaw said.

Bullards Alley has only one win in his last 13 starts, but that came by 10 3/4 lengths in last year’s Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine.

Also entered in the Pan Am were Classic Covey, Hi Happy, Markitoff, Little Nick V., One Go All Go, and Tiz a Slam.

On Leave returns in Honey Fox

On Leave, who ended her 4-year-old season with a neck victory in the Grade 3 My Charmer here in December, will kick off her 5-year-old campaign in Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Honey Fox Stakes going a mile.

On Leave, a daughter of War Front trained by Shug McGaughey, didn’t get her 4-year-old season started until May last year. She won the Perfect Sting at Belmont in July, the All Along at Laurel in July, and the My Charmer.

“Last year it took a while to knock the dust off of her,” McGaughey said “I just wanted to get her going.”

On Leave will face nine rivals in the Honey Fox, including Conquest Hardcandy, Glory to Kitten, Grizzel, Island Reward, Liberty Kitten, Lull, Ris Ipsa, Stormy Victoria, and Team of Teams.

Also on Saturday’s card:

◗ Best Performance, runner-up to Rushing Fall in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, heads a field of eight entered in the $150,000 Sanibel Island for 3-year-old fillies at a mile.

◗ Speed Franco and Therapist, the second- and third-place finishers from the Grade 3 Palm Beach, head a field of six entered in the $150,000 Cutler Bay for 3-year-olds on the turf.