R Harper Rose nicely spotted and well drawn in Any Limit

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – R Harper Rose will attempt to solidify her position as leader of the local 3-year-old filly sprint division when she takes on just five rivals, including stablemate Candy Gray, in Sunday’s $100,000 Any Limit Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The six-furlong Any Limit will go as the sixth event on a 10-race card that begins at the new Sunday post time of 1:10 p.m.

R Harper Rose has been well managed by trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. ever since launching her career with an easy 6 1/4-length victory here in August, the first of three dominant wins that included the seven-furlong Susan’s Girl division of the Florida Sire Series in the fall. A daughter of Khozan, R Harper Rose suffered her only setback in five career starts when second best to Honey Dijon while trying to stretch around two turns for the first and only time in the My Dear Girl Stakes to close out her 2-year-old campaign.

After a brief freshening, R Harper Rose opened her 3-year-old season in the Grade 3 Forward Gal, rating kindly and then rallying from just off the pace to a two-length decision over Fiona’s Magic, who flattered the effort when she returned to upset the Grade 2 Davona Dale at a mile in her next start.

“We waited for the Forward Gal to start the year because we wanted to go to a graded race,” Joseph said. “She had to step up her game in that race and she did. We were between this race and a stakes for Florida-breds at Tampa for her next start and eventually decided it was probably best just to keep her over this track.

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“I think dropping back to six furlongs for this one may actually be in her favor, even though she’s never run that distance before, because of her speed. And obviously the post is great, being drawn on the outside.”

Candy Gray was a very easy nine-length winner of her only previous start, more than five months earlier. Joseph said he plans to run her as well in the Any Limit.

“She’s probably a work or so away from her best but we entered her on the chance we might send Harper to Tampa,” said Joseph. “Obviously this would have been a more ideal spot for her if we had, but hopefully she can at least pick up some black type, which would be good for her résumé.

Launch has won two of her three starts since shipping to the U.S. and switching to dirt last fall. She captured her most recent start by a neck in game fashion over the even-money Roswell, going 6 1/2 furlongs under optional claiming and entry-level allowance conditions here on Feb. 14.

Amor Fati, another very easy and impressive winner in her only previous start, was cross-entered and scratched from an allowance race here Friday by trainer Brittany Russell. Amor Fati was bet to 2-1 for her debut and justified that backing, sprinting to an early lead before widening her final advantage to 5 1/2 lengths under jockey Luis Saez while earning an 80 Beyer Speed Figure.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.