Celestine set to fire again in Honey Fox

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – As strong a race as Celestine ran in the Sand Springs Stakes four weeks ago at Gulfstream Park, trainer Christophe Clement is expecting an even better performance from the 5-year-old mare in Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Honey Fox Stakes.

The Honey Fox, for fillies and mares going a mile on turf, is the richest of the eight supporting stakes on the $1 million Florida Derby card.

Celestine won the Honey Fox last year when owned by James Bryan and trained by Bill Mott. Celestine would go on to become a Grade 1 winner before Bryan sold her at the Keeneland November sale. She was purchased for $2.55 million by Moyglare Stud Farm and transferred to Clement.

In her first start for Moyglare and Clement, Celestine won the Sand Springs Stakes by two lengths over Catch a Glimpse.

“She’s a tighter, fitter horse today than what she was when I ran her the first time,” Clement said.

In the Sand Springs, Celestine was sent to the front by Jose Ortiz, outsprinting the speedy Catch a Glimpse. She could play out as the primary speed again Saturday after breaking from post 5 under Ortiz.

“I think wherever she’s comfortable is fine,” Clement said. “That will be my instructions again on Saturday. If he wants to be on the lead, fine. If he wants to take her back to be comfortable, fine. She has enough speed to give you the luxury to decide what she wants to do.”

Clement said he chose to run Celestine in this race over the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley, a 1 1/16-mile race at Keeneland, because of Celestine’s proficiency at a mile (5 for 7) and her affinity for this course (4 for 7). His major midseason target for Celestine is the Grade 1 Just a Game at Belmont on June 10.

Linda, the winner of the Mrs. Revere Stakes last Nov. 25 over the Grade 1 winner Harmonize, makes her 4-year-old debut in this spot. She shows a solid work tab for trainer Ian Wilkes. Over the last three years, Wilkes is 3 for 36 on turf off a layoff of 60 to 180 days.

Josdesanimaux was beaten a length in a high-caliber allowance here Feb. 24, her first start off a four-month layoff and her first for trainer Ralph Nicks.

“I thought it was a decent effort off the layoff,” Nicks said. “I think she’s done well since, blew out nicely on grass here the other day.”

Lori’s Store, Dad’s Princess, and Inside Out complete the field.

Appleton: Our Way one to beat

Our Way overcame a pedestrian pace to get up in the final strides and win the Sunshine Millions Turf under John Velazquez on Jan. 21. On Saturday, there appears to be more pace to set things up for Our Way when he makes his graded-stakes debut in the Grade 3, $200,000 Appleton Stakes going a mile on turf.

Carded as the fourth race, the Appleton is the first of nine stakes on the program.

Our Way, a gelding by Tiznow, has won three of his last four starts, beginning last summer at Saratoga. His only loss in that span was in the English Channel Stakes at Belmont Park, where he caught soft turf. That race was also run around one turn.

“I think two turns is more to his liking,” trainer James Bond said.

Referring to the Sunshine Millions, Bond said, “There wasn’t a whole lot of pace, and Johnny rode his usual brilliant race.”

Since the start of 2016, Velazquez is 3 for 3 aboard Bond-trained runners.

My Point Exactly, Market Outlook, and Siding Spring all seem to have ample speed to set things up for Our Way.

Delta Prince, who is 2 for 2 on turf, also likely would benefit from a lively pace. A half-brother to the champion mare Royal Delta, Delta Prince makes his stakes debut for trainer Jimmy Jerkens.

All Included is winless in six tries at Gulfstream Park – including an eighth-place finish in this race last year – but he is 3 for 6 at the one-mile distance. All Included finished third but was moved up to second in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Handicap in his most recent start.

“Maybe we didn’t get an ideal trip that day,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “We’re backing up to a mile. Hopefully, we get a good run at it, he shows up, and runs hard.”