Coffee Clique ends long layoff in Honey Fox

Coffee Clique, not seen since winning the Grade 1 Just a Game at Belmont Park last June, makes her return to the races in Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Honey Fox Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf at Gulfstream Park.

Trainer Brian Lynch said Coffee Clique was experiencing bone remodeling last summer and was given the remainder of the year off. Had she required surgery, Lynch said, Coffee Clique would have been retired.

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Coffee Clique began her 2014 season with an allowance win at Gulfstream last March 26 before winning the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile and the Just a Game, both races on her agenda this year.

Her competition Saturday will include Sandiva, a winner of two stakes at this meet; Lady Lara, the impressive winner of the Pebbles Stakes last year; Mabre Rose, Baffle Me, and Kitty Wine – the top three finishers from the South Beach Stakes here in December – Lori’s Store, Istanford, and Party Now.