Spirit Doll returned home to Gulfstream Park and bounced back in a big way in the $100,000 Honey Ryder Stakes on Saturday. In his first stakes victory in the United States, jockey Rasheed Hughes was boxed in on the far turn but guided the 8-5 favorite between horses and peeled off by 1 3/4 lengths. Based in Barbados, Hughes has previously traveled to race in Canada, picking up stakes victories at several smaller tracks in that country. Over time, he has developed a working relationship with trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. and rode the gelding Harrow in the 2025 Group 1 Barbados Gold Cup. After taking many of Joseph’s mounts at Gulfstream this week, Hughes made his stakes start aboard Spirit Doll worth his while. The 3-year-old filly, who wore blinkers for the first time after two graded stakes defeats, stalked the early pace and completed the mile distance on turf in 1:32.77. She paid $5.40 to win. Classic Move, a last-out maiden winner trained by Mark Casse, set the early pace in the Honey Ryder, kicking clear to an uncontested lead on the first turn through an opening quarter-mile in 23.02 seconds. He continued to cruise under Sonny Leon through a half-mile in 45.50. :: Get Gulfstream Park Clocker Reports from Mike Welsch and the Clocker Team. Available every race day.  Laigina, the 9-5 second choice trained by Patrick Biancone, tracked in second in the early going with Spirit Doll close behind in third. But while Spirit Doll had to wait for running room on the rail around the far turn, Laigina was free to draw alongside the early leader and take a short lead entering the stretch. With Classic Move backing up, Laigina already ahead, and the 6-1 contender Mia Familia launching a brief bid to her outside, Spirit Doll had little to do but wait when she hit the top of the stretch. Hughes remained patient, and as soon as a seam opened, she tore through on the way to a decisive stakes win, her second in six career starts. After the Grade 2 Appalachian at Keeneland, Joseph said he did not feel comfortable with the filly’s trip, in which she was shuffled back early and had no real chance to contend. Bringing her back to Florida seems to have had the desired effect. English Channel Bolero Bay was not expected to get an uncontested lead in the $100,000 English Channel on Saturday, but he didn’t need a second invitation when he kicked clear entering the first turn. The 17-1 longshot was resolute under Sonny Leon and held to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Before his upset stakes score for trainer Michael Yates, the 3-year-old gelding’s most impressive race on turf was a seven-length maiden-claiming victory in January. He won a starter/optional claiming race on synthetic last time out, but few suspected that he would be a contender stepping up in class. He paid $37 to win. Redland Rebels, the 3-5 favorite stepping off the Road to the Kentucky Derby, was expected to break sharply from the rail, but he had to settle for second in the early going. Leon urged Bolero Bay to a 1 1/2-length advantage through an opening quarter-mile in 22.93 seconds. The field tightened at the front as the pacesetter slowed through a half-mile in 46.44, but Leon’s decision to sacrifice some ground and preserve energy made the difference in the end. Redland Rebels quickly backed off the leader, as well as contenders Knoty Knicks and Wayne’s Law, leaving Bolero Bay to stave off several outsiders turning for home. My Favorite Bird and jockey Jose Morelos tried their best from a stalking position, which led to a minor incident in which Bolero Bay crossed directly in the gelding’s path while kicking in at the top of the stretch. Morelos launched an objection against Leon, but the result stood, as Bolero Bay ran on and held his advantage all the way to the wire. He completed the mile distance in 1:33.27. Zephyros, a 23-1 longshot trained by Mark Casse, rallied from last to finish third, 1 1/4 lengths behind My Favorite Bird, who has now finished in the money twice in stakes company for trainer Kent Sweezey. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.