Pricey youngsters square off in maiden special weight
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Several first-time starters are sure to make some noise in the seventh race at Gulfstream Park on Sunday, a $70,000 maiden special weight for juvenile fillies. Four of the five debuting runners in the field sold at auction for at least $250,000 and will begin their careers at seven furlongs on dirt.
My Miss Mo, a $320,000 purchase at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales March sale of 2-year-olds in training, will make her first start for Saffie Joseph Jr. The Uncle Mo filly has backed up her asking price on the training track so far. On Sept. 7, she completed five furlongs in 59.60, an immensely sharp workout for an unraced juvenile.
“[She is] a filly that’s shown ability from early on when we got her from the sales,” Joseph said. “She got sick, so she missed a little time, and we brought her back and she’s trained just as well.“
Zany, purchased by Mike Repole for $350,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale, will be one of Todd Pletcher’s first runners at the Sunshine Meet. She moved from Monmouth Park to Gulfstream earlier this month to prepare for this start.
Trainer Jose D’Angelo said that he plans to run both Curly Sue and Sovereign Gold. Last year, Morplay Racing purchased Curly Sue for $350,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale and partnered with R T Racing Stable to buy Sovereign Gold for $250,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale. The two fillies have shared a training regimen at Palm Meadows this summer.
“They look to me like two-turn fillies,” D’Angelo said. “That’s why I’m running them first time out going seven furlongs.“
Laigina may fall under the radar for trainer Patrick Biancone, but the Florida-bred Leinster filly has also been training well at Palm Meadows this summer and most recently completed four furlongs in 47 seconds on Sept. 14.
In the Sunday feature, a statebred $43,000 allowance, trainer Laura Cazares has finally found a comfortable spot for 3-year-old filly Popstyle, who will return to the turf off a three-month layoff.
“You’ve got a window with these guys, and you don’t want to miss the window,” Cazares said. “And sometimes we do miss it. And it’s frustrating, you know? And then you’re trying to keep them in one piece because they’re tearing the barn apart. I’m just stoked that she’s finally entered and she’s in the right spot and I can get her back out there.”
Cazares has been trying to get Popstyle back in action for weeks, but she ultimately decided to wait until this condition filled. While her trainer bided her time, the filly has stayed hot in training and completed four furlongs at Palm Meadows in 47.80 seconds on Sept. 11. Jockey Leonel Reyes will step in for Jose Morelos, who will be serving a three-day suspension. Cazares said that Reyes and her filly could make “a strong pair.”
In her last start in June, a $57,000 allowance in open company, Popstyle finished third behind Luna Louska, who has since earned back-to-back stakes victories at Horseshoe Indianapolis and Aqueduct. Four horses in the field of eight that day won their next start.
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