Calder: Pair of longshots outrun previously unbeaten Two T’s At Two B in Affirmed

A sloppy racetrack and an early speed battle led to a major upset in the $125,000 Affirmed Stakes after the 21-1 D’nied Permission outfinished the 25-1 maiden Joshua’s Comprise to win the middle leg of Saturday’s Florida Stallion Stakes at Calder. Two T’s At Two B, unbeaten and untested in three previous starts, finished a tiring third as the 2-5 favorite.

Two T’s At Two B, who easily captured the first leg of the series, the six-furlong Dr. Fager, contested the early pace with Dixie High, drew well clear in early stretch, but faltered badly over the sloppy and sealed track through the late stages of the seven-furlong Affirmed. D’nied Permission overtook the favorite inside the sixteenth pole then was all out to withstand the late surge from Joshua’s Comprise, who remains winless in nine starts.

D’nied Permission, whose only previous victory came under a $32,000 claiming tag, was ridden to victory by Luis Saez for trainer Joe Calascibetta. He covered the distance in 1:26.03 and paid $45.20.

“I knew when the other horse [Dixie High] went with the favorite that it was good for me,” said Saez, Calder’s leading rider. “On the turn I saw that the favorite was still going well, but when he came to midstretch, I could tell that he was starting to tire. And when I asked my horse to run, he was strong and gave me a little more and a little more. And with a sixteenth to go, I knew I was going to win.” Putyourdreamsaway avenged her second-place finish at the hands of Candy Coded Kisses four weeks ago in the Desert Vixen Stakes, reversing that decision with a convincing 7 1/2-length victory over that rival in the $125,000 Susan’s Girl Stakes. Jewel in the Sky, the 3-5 favorite, tired badly after setting an uncontested pace and finished a well-beaten fourth in the middle leg of the filly division of the Florida Stallion Series.

Putyourdreamsaway stalked the early pace then drew away readily once settling into the stretch. Candy Coded Kisses tried to rally with the winner leaving the turn but proved no match. She finished a length in front of the 53-1 Capriccio Blue, who rallied to be third.

Anita’s Comprise broke down at the top of the stretch.

Putyourdreamsaway, is owned by Herb and Ione Elkins and trained by Bill Kaplan. She paid $11 after completing seven furlongs in 1:26.52 under jockey Juan Leyva.

“She broke great, but she kind of got shoved into the fence by the outside horses, and that kind of forced my hand a little because at that point I had to ask her just a bit so she could get closer,” said Leyva “But once I got out of that situation, she was really comfortable and got into a nice stride. And from then on, I just had to wait and be patient with her, and when it was time to run, she responded. She’s a real nice filly.”

The Affirmed and Susan’s Girl were two of six stakes races for 2-year-olds on Saturday’s Juvenile Showcase program. The other winners were the undefeated Sr. Quisqueyano ($3.40) in the $75,000 Seacliff; first-time starter Rose to Gold ($12.40) in the $75,000 Lindsay Frolic; Itsmyluckyday ($4.80) in the off-the-turf Fasig Tipton Turf Dash, and Martha’s Moon ($13.20) in the off-the-turf Catcharisingstar.

Sr. Quisqueyano was easily the most impressive winner of the day, dominating the one- mile Seacliff by nearly 14 lengths for his third win in as many starts. Although he is a Florida-bred son of Exclusive Quality, Sr. Quisqueyano is not eligible for the Stallion Stakes.