Ziadie has 'em surrounded in Susan's Girl

MIAMI - When trainer Bill White saddles Blissful Kiss a week from Saturday in the seven-furlong Susan's Girl Stakes, he may feel like General Custer at Little Big Horn. White's filly will be surrounded in the Susan's Girl, middle leg of the filly division of the Florida Stallion Series, by as many as three rivals from the barn of Ralph Ziadie.

Blissful Kiss was the heavy favorite to win the opening leg of the Stallion Series, the six-furlong Desert Vixen Stakes, but she lost to the undefeated Pharmstar, trained by Ziadie, who rallied to a 4 3/4-length victory.

Pharmstar continues to battle tender shins, but Ziadie said she came out of the Desert Vixen well and as of now will run back in the Susan's Girl. She will likely be joined by Centaur Farm Inc. stablemates Buck for Par and Redoubled Miss.

Buck for Par won her maiden going seven furlongs earlier this month, contesting all the pace and outlasting Tempo West by a neck. Tempo West flattered that victory by winning easily at a mile on Monday.

Redoubled Miss was even more impressive graduating on Sunday, also at seven furlongs.

Of the two new shooters Ziadie will toss at White and Blissful Kiss in the Susan's Girl, he likes Redoubled Miss the best.

"If Pharmstar didn't have the problem with her shins I think she'd sweep the series without any problem," said Ziadie. "But even if she can't make it all the way through, I think the other two are both capable of winning it themselves."

Ziadie said he will reserve final decision on Pharmstar's status for the Susan's Girl until next week, when he returns from New Jersey, where he'll send out Sir Bear in Monmouth Park's Iselin Handicap on Sunday.

As for White, he was impressed by Pharmstar's performance in the Desert Vixen. Blissful Kiss and jockey Andrew Ramgeet went by Pharmstar on the turn, but Pharmstar came back and won.

"I knew Ralph's filly was a good one going into the Desert Vixen, but I was really surprised and impressed by the way she ran, especially after Ramgeet made the decision to go ahead and put her away like that on the turn," White said. "That kind of move usually works, especially against a horse with such limited experience, but Pharmstar really showed me something coming on again and running away from us like she did at the end."

White is hoping the added distance of the Susan's Girl might be the difference Blissful Kiss needs to reverse that decision.

"My filly is by Kissin Kris and they usually want more distance," said White. "So we'll just see what happens next time."

White, who is running away with the training title this summer, said he will make a rider change for the Susan's Girl but hasn't selected a jockey yet.

"Naturally, Cornelio [leading rider Cornelio Velasquez] is the one I favor, but he's tied to Pharmstar at the moment," said White. "So I'm just going to sit back for now, see if that filly runs, and then make a decision from there."

Velasquez escaped the wrath of the stewards this week. Velasquez, who owns a 76-72 lead over Rosemary Homeister Jr. heading into Friday, had his number taken down twice on last Saturday's card but was held blameless on both occasions.

Dancing Guy in top form

Dancing Guy proved he is back at the top of his game when he rallied from off a slow pace to a half-length victory over Tahkodha Hills in Monday's $34,570 Higgler Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt.

The win was the second in a row for Dancing Guy, who had gone more than 11 months between victories prior to capturing the restricted Amos Handicap on July 28.

Manny Aguilar rode Dancing Guy in the Higgler for owner-trainer Newcomb Green.