King Humor making stakes debut in Ocala Flame

To say trainer Victor Barboza Jr. has the upper hand in Thursday’s $75,000 Ocala Flame Stakes would be an understatement. Not only does Barboza send out the undefeated King Humor as the prohibitive favorite in the 6 1/2-furlong dash, he’ll have half the field with his Gran King of Kings and Powerful Venezuela also among the six 3-year-olds entered for a race that serves as a prep for the Carry Back Stakes on June 30.

King Humor was an instant hit, winning his debut by four lengths in wire-to-wire fashion Feb. 2 while earning a sensational 98 Beyer Speed Figure for his effort. He’s started just once since, returning two months later to capture a first-level optional-claiming dash by a length as a 1-5 favorite while regressing to a 79 Beyer in the process.

A son of Distorted Humor, King Humor has had five works in preparation for his stakes debut, including five furlongs over a muddy track in 59.13 seconds in company with Powerful Venezuela on May 25. He blew out three-eighths in 36.38 on Sunday.

“He was supposed to run in a stakes last month, but I had to scratch him because he had a little problem,” said Barboza, referring to the seven-furlong Roar on April 21. “But he’s doing very good right now. If all goes well, I plan to bring him back in the Carry Back later this month, after which we’ll have to take him out of town because there are no more stakes for 3-year-olds on the dirt at Gulfstream this summer.”

Powerful Venezuela will make his first start since being transferred to Barboza’s barn following his sixth-place finish against starter-allowance opposition March 14. The homebred won his only other outing when launching his career with a 1 3/4-length victory under a $50,000 claiming tag in August.

Noble Drama figures to provide King Humor with his sternest test, turning back in distance off a half-length stakes victory going a mile and 40 yards at Tampa Bay Downs on May 5 for trainer David Fawkes. Noble Drama will reunite with jockey Tyler Gaffalione, who guided him to an easy, 9 1/2-length maiden win March 9.