Sheriff Bianco rallies late for upset in Say Florida Sandy

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – When Sheriff Bianco finished third in an optional-claiming race here on Feb. 8, it was his 21st consecutive loss dating back to the spring of 2023. However, his trainer Linda Rice saw it as an improvement over how Sheriff Bianco had been running. Wanting to capitalize on his improved form, Rice opted to wheel him back in one week in Saturday’s $125,000 Say Florida Sandy Stakes for New York-breds at Aqueduct.

Rice’s faith in her 7-year-old gelding – whom she claimed for $30,000 back in July 2022 – was rewarded when Sheriff Bianco rallied three wide in the stretch under Ruben Silvera to win the Say Florida Sandy by 1 3/4 lengths over Shipsational. It was another three-quarters of a length back to Doc Sullivan in third.

Locke and Key was fourth followed by favored Mama’s Gold and Whittington Park.

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The win was just the seventh in 41 starts for Sheriff Bianco, his first since April 23, 2023. Included in his 21 losses since, were 12 stakes, four in which he finished second and three in which he was third. Last week, Rice had Sheriff Bianco in for the $62,500 claiming price when he was beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Ridgewood Runner.

“I was pretty happy with that performance I thought it was an uptick in his performances and because of that I thought let’s give him a shot in the New York-bred stakes because seven-eighths is probably his sweet spot.”

The race played out similar to how Rice saw it on paper with Mama’s Gold setting the pace and Shipsational chasing and then confronting him through a half-mile in 46.90 seconds. With snow falling, Silvera tipped Sheriff Bianco out into the clear turning for home and he was able to wear down Shipsational who had taken the lead in upper stretch.

Sheriff Bianco, by Speightster, covered the seven furlongs in 1:24.94 and returned $18.80 as the 8-1 fourth choice.

“Beautiful trip,” Rice said. “I thought there’d be two speeds out in front of him. I told Ruben tracking in second or third is really where he wants to be. Ruben’s never been on him before but he rode him beautifully.”

The victory improved Sheriff Bianco’s career earnings to $811,863.

Rice said it’s possible Sheriff Bianco could make his next start in the $125,000 Haynesfield Stakes for New York-breds on April 6.

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