Nicks trio will have to outrun Dunk in Dr. Fager Stakes

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Ralph Nicks returned to his Gulfstream Park base this week with pressing matters. Nicks will saddle three of the eight starters in the $100,000 Dr. Fager, which helps kick off the annual Florida Sire Stakes series Saturday with its 36th running.

The Nicks trio of Phantom Ro, Soutache, and Kingston Pike are among the top challengers to the likely favorite, Dunk, in the six-furlong Dr. Fager.

“They’re all coming into it the right way,” said Nicks, who had spent the last two weeks of July overseeing his other string at Saratoga.

Soutache and Phantom Ro both won their career debuts in early July, while Kingston Pike remains a maiden after two starts. Soutache, with Jorge Ruiz riding from post 8, might have a slight edge among his contingent, said Nicks.

“I’d have to think he’d be favored among those two,” he said.

However the betting unfolds, they’ll all have to outrun Dunk, whose third and most recent start was by far his best. Trained by Stanley Gold, the all-time FSS leading trainer with 18 wins, Dunk won a July 15 maiden race by 8 3/4 lengths under Emisael Jaramillo, who has a return call.

“He should be tough if he can run back to that,” said Gold.

One of the fringe players, Majestic Secret, brings a terrific backstory to the Dr. Fager: Owner and breeder George Klein only ventured into the Thoroughbred business a few years ago when his wife, Debbi, hit a big slots jackpot at Gulfstream.

“We’re living the dream with this horse,” George Klein said.

Rounding out the lineup are Tip Sheet, Doctor Chat, and Little Doubt.

First post for a 13-race card is 12:10 p.m. Eastern. The Dr. Fager is race 12 (post, 6:06) and is directly preceded by its filly counterpart, the $100,000 Desert Vixen (race 11, 5:30). Both stakes are part of the Rainbow 6 sequence (races 8-13). Access to the “Summer Soiree,” an ontrack wine-and-cheese festival, is available to fans for $25.

All FSS races are restricted to offspring of sires approved under conditions set forth by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association. As such, fields for both Saturday races are composed solely of Florida-breds.

Subsequent races in the FSS series are the $200,000 Affirmed and $200,000 Susan’s Girl on Sept. 2 and the $400,000 In Reality and $400,000 My Dear Girl on Sept. 30.

The FSS was inaugurated in 1982 at Calder (now Gulfstream Park West) and has produced six Eclipse Award winners: Smile, Brave Raj, Holy Bull, Not Surprising, Big Drama, and Awesome Feather.

The four-day race week at Gulfstream ends Sunday with the return of Gunnevera in the $100,000 Tangelo as part of a 12-race card.

KEY CONTENDERS

Dunk, by Brethren
Last 2 Beyers: 78-59

◗ Dark bay colt has made stark progress in three starts for owner and breeder Arindel, with his maiden win coming with first-time Lasix.

Soutache, by Backtalk

Last Beyer: 77

◗ GoldMark homebred held sway at 17-1 in his debut when staying clear of a well-regarded Todd Pletcher prospect, Pony Up.

Phantom Ro, by Wildcat Heir
Last Beyer: NA

◗ Gray gelding dominated as an even-money favorite in his lone career try under Edgard Zayas, who retains the mount.

Majestic Secret, by Kantharos
Last Beyer: 63

◗ Chestnut colt finished ahead of Dunk in each of his last two starts and continues to thrive for Ocala, Fla.-based Rory Miller.