Stonehedge seeks another sweep in Florida Sire Series stakes

Stonehedge swept the first round of the Florida Sire Stakes at Gulfstream Park with homebreds Breeze On By and Go Jo Jo Go earlier this month, and those horses return as the respective favorites for Saturday’s next races in the series, the $200,000 Affirmed and $200,000 Susan’s Girl.

There are a total of four stakes on the 12-race card, which is scheduled to feature a mandatory payout in the Rainbow 6. The Florida Sire Stakes for 2-year-olds both will be run over seven furlongs. The $75,000 Proud Man and $75,000 Sharp Susan on Saturday also feature 2-year-olds, but at a mile on the grass.

Breeze On By is undefeated in two career starts and will be a short-priced favorite in the Affirmed off a sharp victory in the $100,000 Dr. Fager division of the Florida Sire Stakes on Aug. 1. He set the pace after breaking from the rail and covered six furlongs in the slop in 1:10.85. Breeze On By earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 82.

“He has talent,” said Ralph Nicks, who trains Breeze On By. “He’s been pretty forward ever since he came in, done things the right way.”

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Breeze On By gets off the fence Saturday, as he will break from post 6 in the nine-horse field. The draw sits well with Nicks.

“I like it because in the morning, training, we’ve had him sit behind horses,” he said. “So hopefully, depending on the pace scenario, we’ll worry about it from there.”

Breeze On By stretches out a furlong after having raced at six furlongs in his first two starts, including a July 12 maiden special weight win by six lengths at Gulfstream.

“He’s out of a Fusaichi Pegasus mare and he’s a long-legged colt, so hopefully, it won’t be an issue,” Nicks said of the added ground. “Hopefully, seven-eighths will be within his grasp.”

Emisael Jaramillo will ride Breeze On By.

The chief threats include Gatsby, who was the runner-up in the Dr. Fager.

Nicks, who also will saddle maiden winners Big Daddy Dave and Seazan for Stonehedge, is looking for his fourth straight win in the Affirmed. He captured the race with Soutache in 2017, Garter and Tie in 2018, and Liam’s Lucky Charm in 2019.

Stonehedge has won 14 races in the Florida Sire Stakes series, according to Gulfstream. The farm’s first shot at 15 comes with Go Jo Jo Go, who will start as the probable favorite in the Susan’s Girl. It goes as the ninth race, while the Affirmed is slotted as the 11th on Saturday.

Go Jo Jo Go won her maiden in the Desert Vixen division of the Florida Sire Stakes on Aug. 1, and the Beyer Speed Figure of 72 that she earned is the best career number in the Susan’s Girl. She closed from last for 1 1/4-length win under Leonel Reyes, who won five races Sunday at Gulfstream. Go Jo Jo Go could get a decent setup behind a few speed horses in the Susan’s Girl.

“She finished really well last time,” trainer Michael Yates told publicity at Gulfstream. “Hopefully, we can get away from the gate in good order and just kind of sit on her and let her make her one run down the lane. That’s the plan.”

Reyes has the mount from post 4.

Stonehedge has one other starter in the race, Oh Deborah, who is trained by Nicks.

The chief threat appears to be Princess Secret, who was second as the favorite in the Desert Vixen. She set the pace in that race and earlier in her career wired a maiden special weight field at 4 1/2 furlongs at Gulfstream. In between those starts, she was second against colts in a first-level allowance, also at Gulfstream.

◗ Spanish Loveaffair will attempt to back up an 11-length debut win with a stakes victory Saturday in the Sharp Susan. The score came in a local maiden special weight at a mile on turf, and the Beyer of 72 that Spanish Loveaffair earned is the best career number in the Sharp Susan. Victor Lebron has the mount from post 5 in the field of 10 for trainer Mark Casse.

◗ The Proud Man drew nine horses, and just one is proven at the two-turn trip. Castle King won at a mile on turf Aug. 9 in a maiden special weight at Gulfstream. Fulmini is proven on turf, but his maiden win came at five furlongs and he now will test the waters at two turns. Another top contender is Boca Boy, who comes off a third-place finish to Breeze On By in the Dr. Fager.