Mo Cash tries a mile in Wildcat Heir Stakes

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Mo Cash answered the wet-track question readily enough when splashing to an easy 4 1/2-length victory last month in the Benny the Bull Stakes. On Saturday, the red-hot Mo Cash will face another new challenge when he stretches out to a mile for the first time as the heavy favorite in the $150,000 Wildcat Heir, the richest of six stakes supporting the Florida Sire Stakes finales at Gulfstream Park.

The Wildcat Heir is restricted to Florida-bred 3-year-olds and up registered and eligible for the Sire Stakes program.

Mo Cash enters the Wildcat Heir off arguably the best two races of his career. The son of Adios Charlie rallied to a 1 3/4-length optional-claiming victory going six furlongs on July 13 before returning with a 4 1/2-length triumph in the seven-furlong Benny the Bull, earning a career-best 98 Beyer Speed Figure.

Mo Cash, a multiple stakes winner earlier in his career with trainer Ron Spatz, was transferred to the barn of Aubrey Maragh this season but ran in the name of Ricko Maragh in the Benny the Bull and will do so again on Saturday. Aubrey Maragh has been ruled off track grounds by Gulfstream officials pending the results of an investigation into the ride by his nephew Tony Maragh aboard his charge Musical Heart on Aug. 19 here. Tony Maragh was suspended 60 days and fined $1,000 by Gulfstream Park stewards for failing to persevere with Musical Heart, who finished second.

Trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. is hoping a mile could prove the great equalizer when his Mr. Jordan tries to reverse his distant second-place setback behind Mo Cash in the Benny the Bull.

“I think we can beat him this time,” said Plesa. “Maybe the added distance will be the difference. There’s a little speed on his outside this time, and my horse also lost a lot of ground when angling out into the stretch the last time these two horses met.”

The 6-year-old Mr. Jordan, at or near the top of the Florida-bred handicap division for several years, broke a bit slowly from post 1 in the Benny the Bull. Unfortunately for him, he’s drawn the rail once again for Saturday.

“He’s never been a real sharp breaker under any circumstances, but you just compound that with [post] No. 1 because horses down there always seem to get off a half-length slow,” said Plesa. “But he’s coming into the race in excellent shape, and that’s all that I can really ask for.”

Front Loaded, a tiring third in the Benny the Bull, figures to set the pace in a field that also includes the 3-year-olds Weisser, Dunk, and Noble Drama.

The other five undercard stakes carry purses of $75,000 apiece, with the first three for 2-year-olds, and the final pair for 3-year-olds and up horses on the turf.

The five-furlong Hollywood Beach lured eight juveniles led by the speedy Jackson, a tiring fourth in the six-furlong Dr. Fager, who looms the one to catch in his turf debut. Harry’s Ontheloose and Sidney’s Charisma are the only two members of the lineup to have won on turf. Harry’s Ontheloose figures to be coming on best of all at the end. He turns back in distance after finishing fifth in the 7 1/2-furlong Proud Man on Sept. 1. Trainer Todd Pletcher has sent Bulletin, a son of City Zip, down from New York to make his career debut in the Hollywood Beach.

The Armed Forces will test 2-year-olds at a mile on the grass. The field is led by Timmy M., Mozo Bello, and Louder Than Bombs, the second- through fourth-place finishers behind longshot Dakota’s Dude in the Proud Man. The lineup also includes turf winners Soldat War, Stirling Drive, Tangible, and Bermejo, who won his only start in France before joining trainer Ralph Nicks here this week.

The Our Dear Peggy will also be decided at a mile on turf and lured a wide-open field of 11 juvenile fillies, plus three main-track-only entrants. A Bit Special, who finished full of run only to fall a neck shy of upsetting the even-money Entirely in the Sharp Susan Stakes four weeks ago, figures to be favored for trainer Patrick Biancone. Dangerous Curves and Yako return after finishing third and fourth in the Sharp Susan. Dream On Jilly is a wild card in her turf debut.

The Mr. Steele and its filly counterpart, the one-mile Monroe, both are wide open. Familiar rivals Galleon Mast, Kroy, and One of a King are among the top contenders in the Mr. Steele. King’s Ghost captured the Monroe after the race was switched from the turf to dirt in 2017, and he will try to defend his title against the likes of Susie Bee and No Sweat.