Speed-filled Appleton could go any number of ways
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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – For those who believe the imposing presence of Forte makes Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby a less-than-appealing wagering proposition, there is the $150,000 Appleton Stakes immediately preceding it, which looks a wildly competitive 12-horse affair.
The one-mile turf race for older horses appears to have ample speed in it, which should bolster the chances of trainer Shug McGaughey’s runners Fort Washington and Dreams of Tomorrow. Both, however, have built-in obstacles to overcome.
Fort Washington has been his own worst enemy, breaking slowly in his last four races. In his last two starts, both at Gulfstream, he has come with a strong rally to just miss, first by a neck to Golden Glider in the Tropical Park Derby on Tapeta and then finishing a half-length back when dead-heating for third in the Grade 3 Canadian Turf.
“Hopefully, he’ll break better and get himself in the game,” McGaughey said. “His breaks have been a little better here. He should have won the Tropical Park Derby. He got to lugging in a little bit the last part of it and he got beat.”
Jose Ortiz rides Fort Washington from post 5.
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Dreams of Tomorrow is coming off a solid allowance win at Tampa Bay Downs on Dec. 17. He will have to overcome post 12 under Javier Castellano.
“Dreams of Tomorrow got a bad post but he’s been doing awfully well,” McGaughey said. “There’s some speed. I think he can get him over.”
One of the projected speeds is Striker, who made a smart-looking turf debut at Tampa on Feb. 12, winning a second-level allowance by 1 3/4 lengths for trainer Josie Carroll. In addition to being his first start on turf and beyond six furlongs, that race was Striker’s first with blinkers added.
“The blinkers focused him, but the grass really improved him,” Carroll said. “I think [Gulfstream’s] course has been playing to horses with tactical speed.”
Gray’s Fable finished fourth in last year’s Appleton, won by Phantom Currency. Brian Lynch trained Phantom Currency then, and he now trains Gray’s Fable. On Feb. 10, Gray’s Fable came off a four-month layoff to run second in an allowance race here. Gray’s Fable had to wait for room along the rail that day and was outfinished by Souper Dormy, whom he again faces here.
“I thought he had a great comeback race and he’s trained on really well,” Lynch said. “This should be a good race to see where we’re at.”
Steady On, runner-up to Emmanuel in the Canadian Turf, and Winfromwithin, runner-up to Emmanuel in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes, are also win candidates in the Appleton.
He’spuregold, Lucky Curlin, Churchtown, Roaring Forties, and County Final complete the field.
Sand Springs Stakes
The $150,000 Sand Springs, like the Appleton, appears fairly wide open. Unlike the Appleton, however, there does not appear to be much speed in this 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares on turf.
While European-based runners aren’t known for their early lick, the French import Jouza has shown some in her races. She makes her U.S. debut and first start for trainer Graham Motion in this spot. Jouza has been working for Motion since January, so fitness should not be an issue for this 4-year-old daughter of Toronado.
“She’s definitely ready to run,” Motion said. “In the morning she doesn’t give you the impression of being a plodder, that’s for sure.”
Joel Rosario rides from post 3.
Perseverancia returns to the races off a four-month layoff, or since she finished second in the Grade 3 Cardinal at Churchill Downs last Nov. 24. Trainer Cherie DeVaux said Perseverancia “needed to work through a few things, nothing major.”
“She’s been doing really well,” DeVaux said. “She puts a lot into her works.”
Julian Leparoux rides from post 9.
Adding to the competitiveness of this field are Love in the Air, coming off an allowance win here on Feb. 25 for trainer John Servis; Souper Hoity Toity, off since winning the Ontario Damsel at Woodbine for Mark Casse last October; Marketsegmentation, third in the Grade 3 Endeavour for Chad Brown; and Arm Candy, one of two entered for trainer Brendan Walsh.
Sanibel Island Stakes
The Christophe Clement-trained pair of Love Appeals and Breath Away both won their debut on turf at Gulfstream. Each looks to win her first stakes in the $100,000 Sanibel Island for 3-year-old fillies going 7 1/2 furlongs.
Love Appeals came from a couple lengths off the pace to win her only start, a 7 1/2-furlong maiden race on the turf at Gulfstream six weeks ago. Breath Away came from off the pace to win her debut before getting beat a nose in an allowance on Tapeta.
“She came to win the race and just flattened out the last 50 yards,” Clement said. “I’m happy to run her back on grass.”
Riding Pretty, beaten only 1 1/2 lengths in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride, and Metaphysical, beaten two lengths in the Grade 3 Sweetest Chant, are in with a chance.
Completing the field are Mrs. Astor, Faccia Bella, Mohawk Trail, Lady Hamilton, She’s a Joy, and Aunt Shirley.
Cutler Bay Stakes
Dunedin, good enough to win an allowance race as a maiden at 2, returns to the races in Saturday’s $100,000 Cutler Bay for 3-year-olds going 7 1/2 furlongs on turf.
Dunedin, trained by Kelsey Danner, hasn’t run since finishing fifth, beaten just a half-length by winner Nagirroc, in the Grade 3 Futurity last October at Aqueduct. Nagirroc came back to finish third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and in the Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita. Vacation Dance, fifth in the Futurity, came back to win the Atlantic Beach at Aqueduct.
Danner said she turned out all her young horses last fall and said Dunedin, a son of Munnings, has benefited from the time off.
“He’s gotten bigger, strong, doing really good,” said Danner, who has Luis Saez to ride from post 6. “I expect him to run well.”
Danner said she has been looking forward to stretching Dunedin out in distance. His win came at 6 1/2 furlongs.
Behind Enemy Lines won a maiden race at Dundalk in Ireland in January, and makes his first start since then and first in the U.S. He is trained by Jack Sisterson.
Other contenders include King’s Fortune, a debut winner on Tapeta for Todd Pletcher; Harry Time, second in an allowance for Saffie Joseph Jr.; and Drinking Problem 2 for 2 on turf for Jose Garrofalo.
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