Calder: O'Connell goes for double Florida Stallion Series sweep
MIAMI – Kathleen O’Connell will attempt to make Calder history on Saturday when she strives to become the first trainer to sweep both legs of the Florida Stallion Series on the same day in the 32-year history of the event.
O’Connell’s runners, Scandalous Act in the $300,000 My Dear Girl and My Brown Eyed Guy in the $300,000 In Reality, are likely be odds-on in both races. The Stallion Stakes finales highlight a nine-race program that also includes a pair of turf stakes for 3-year-olds, the $70,000 Tropical Park Derby and its filly counterpart, the $70,000 Frances A. Genter.
Scandalous Act and Brown Eyed Guy have a lot in common. Both horses are owned by O’Connell’s longtime client Gil Campbell and both have won three of their first four starts. Neither has started in the seven weeks since a victory in the second division of the Stallion Series on Aug. 24, and neither has started beyond seven furlongs. Each could earn a ticket to the Breeders’ Cup with a big effort on Saturday.
“It’s always a lot of pressure trying to become the first to accomplish something like this,” said O’Connell. “But nobody deserves to do it more than Mr. Campbell.”
Scandalous Act is a daughter of Act of Duty and half-sister to 2012 Dr. Fager winner Two T’s at Two B. All three of Scandalous Act’s victories have been one-sided affairs, including her 7 1/2-length triumph in the six-furlong Desert Vixen and 8 3/4-length tally in the seven-furlong Susan’s Girl. The lone blemish on her record came in the J J’sdream when she finished seventh after a tardy beginning.
“It can be a rude awakening for any 2-year-old when they are all of a sudden hit with dirt for the first time, and that’s what happened to Scandalous Act after she broke slow in the J J’sdream,” O’Connell explained. “We put blinkers on her after that and it’s helped her focus better. She’s always exhibited good staying power training and she has a good mind, so I thought right from the start she’s going to love a two-turn race.”
My Brown Eyed Guy is a nose shy of being undefeated in four starts, having dropped his debut by the slimmest of margins before posting three consecutive victories, including easy scores in the Dr. Fager and Affirmed. My Brown Eyed Guy is by With Distinction and a half-brother to the two-time stakes winner Blue Eyed Sweetie.
“He’s a little different type of horse than the filly,” said O’Connell. “He’s more European-looking, a little light on weight, but with a tremendous amount of staying power and very athletic. Like Scandalous Act, he’s got useful speed, but I don’t think either has to be in front.”
O’Connell is not concerned that neither of her horses has had a prep around two turns.
“If we’re thinking Breeders’ Cup at all with either of these horses, Mr. Campbell and I just felt it would have meant too many races in too short a time to run them in the preps,” said O’Connell. “But both are training well and should not have a problem getting the extra distance.”
Scandalous Act’s chief competition in the My Dear Girl could come from the Bill Kaplan-trained trio of Holiday Magic, Quinnkat, and Golden Friendships. Holiday Magic, soundly defeated by Scandalous Act in the Desert Vixen and Susan’s Girl, rebounded with an easy victory over Quinnkat when sent a distance of ground for the first time in the Brave Raj.
“If Kathleen’s horses don’t like two turns, I could have a hell of a day,” said Kaplan with a smile. “All my horses have already proven they like two turns, and I’m pretty confident they’ll run well again Saturday.”
Like Kaplan, trainer Stanley Gold is hoping distance will be the great equalizer when he tries Best Plan Yet against My Brown Eyed Guy once again in the In Reality. Best Plan Yet finished second to My Brown Eyed Guy in the Dr. Fager and Affirmed. Best Plan Yet rebounded from those setbacks to rally from last and register a one-length victory three weeks later in the one mile and 70-yard Foolish Pleasure.
◗ The Florida Stallion Series will move to Gulfstream Park beginning in 2014.