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Nicks Hoping To ‘Breeze’ To Fourth FSS Affirmed Victory In A Row

A resilient winner of the $100,000 Dr. Fager Aug. 1, Breeze On By will seek his second straight FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes victory in the $200,000 Affirmed at Gulfstream Park Saturday while giving trainer Ralph Nicks a solid shot at his fourth consecutive success in the seven-furlong event for 2-year-olds sired by accredited Florida stallions.

The Affirmed will co-headline Saturday's Florida Sire Stakes program at Gulfstream with the $200,000 Susan's Girl, a seven-furlong event for juvenile fillies. The $75,000 Proud Man, a mile turf stakes for 2-year-olds and the $75,000 Sharp Susan, a mile turf stakes for juvenile fillies, will be supporting stakes on a 12-race program. The Affirmed will be included in the Rainbow 6 sequence Saturday, when a mandatory payout is scheduled.

Nicks has saddled the Affirmed winner the past three seasons, scoring with Soutache (2017), Garter and Tie (2018) and Liam's Lucky Charm (2019).

“Six, seven years, I've been here now. After the second year, I knew I had to competitive in the sire stakes,” said Nicks, who made a decision to base his stable year-round in South Florida when Gulfstream Park instituted a Spring/Summer Meet. “I've been fortunate enough to have clients to send me horses that are eligible for that and I've been fortunate enough to have some with the talent to get it done. The racing gods have allowed us to put it all together on those days.”

Breeze On By gave Nicks his seventh Florida Sire Stakes success since 2006, while providing Gilbert Campbell's Stonehedge Farm with a 13th victory in the prestigious tradition-rich series while winning the six-furlong Dr. Fager. (Michael Yates-trained Go Jo Jo Go upped that total to 14 for Stonehedge with a win in the Aug. 1 FSS Desert Vixen.)

The gelded son of Cajun Breeze, who made a rather auspicious debut while capturing a July 12 maiden special weight race at Gulfstream by six lengths, set the pace in the six-furlong Dr. Fager before meeting a strong challenge from Gatsby at the top of the stretch. After Gatsby put his nose in front in mid-stretch, Breeze On By fought back gamely to prevail by a length.

“He seemed to have handled the pressure of two races close together. It looks like he put some weight on and matured some more, so hopefully he'll move forward from here,” Nicks said. “He's a big rangy horse. I think he'll handle [seven furlongs] fine. It'll depend on pace scenarios and set-up, but time will tell on that.”

Emisael Jaramillo has the return call.

Nicks and Stonehedge will also be represented in the Affirmed by a pair of promising maiden winners, Seazan and Big Daddy Dave.

Seazan, a gelded son of Khozan who finished second in his June 10 debut in a $50,000 maiden claimer, stepped up to capture a seven-furlong maiden special weight race on the Dr. Fager undercard.

“He might be a bit of a sleeper in there. In his second start at seven-eighths of a mile, he really liked it. He's a horse that's definitely going to run on down the racetrack,” Nicks said.

Samy Camacho has the mount aboard Seazan.

Big Daddy Dave, also a gelded son of Khozan, captured his debut by 3 ¼ lengths May 30.

“We gave him time after his debut and we were pointing him to the first leg. When he came back he ended up getting sick,” Nicks said. “I think he'll run well.”

Edgard Zayas has the call aboard Big Daddy Dave.

Nicks is confident in the abilities of the three prominent South Florida jockeys to give their mounts their best chances for success.

“I like my hand going into it. Any of the three are capable. Hopefully, they'll stay out of each other's way,” Nicks said. “There are some different dimensions there. Big Daddy Dave and Breeze On By can control the early part of the race if wanted. They both could stalk and set off, and Seazan is an obvious closer. We'll try and let it play out. It'll be up to Jaramillo, Zayas and Camacho to see what happens.”

Top Boss, another gelded son of Khozan, will give Stonehedge a fourth chance to boost its gaudy FSS numbers. The Kathleen O'Connell-trained Top Boss captured a $50,000 maiden claiming race by 7 ½ lengths in his fourth career start.

Hall of Famer Edgar Prado has the call aboard the Stonehedge hombred.

Arindel's Gatsby, an impressive winner of his April 12 debut, rebounded from an off-the-board finish in the June 27 Bashford Manor (G3) at Churchill Downs with his gusty second-place finish in the Dr. Fager. The homebred son of Brethren pulled off an upset victory over heavily favored Golden Pal in his April 12 debut at 4 ½ furlongs at Gulfstream, chasing the Wesley Ward-trained odds-on favorite into the stretch before edging clear by three-quarters of a length. Golden Pal has gone on to impress on turf, finishing second in the Norfolk (G2) at Royal Ascot and winning last week's Skidmore Stakes at Saratoga handily by 3 ½ lengths.

Trilogy Stable and Laurie Plesa's Famous Gent made a middle move from back in the pack and raced evenly thereafter to finish fourth in the Dr. Fager.

Eddie Plesa Jr.-trained Famous Gent, who broke his maiden in the second career start, entered the Dr. Fager off a troubled third-place finish behind highly regarded Papetu in the first juvenile allowance race of the Spring/Summer Meet.

The son of First Dude will be ridden by Christian Torres.

Flying Finish Farm's Florala Al, Vicente Stella Stables LLC's Grey Dom and Just For Fun Inc.'s Advance Cash round out the field.

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Breeze On By, Gatsby Prep For Rematch In Florida Sire Stakes Affirmed Division

Stonehedge LLC's Breeze On By is scheduled to seek his third straight victory and second leg of the 2020 Florida Sire Stakes series Aug. 29 in the $200,000 Affirmed at Gulfstream Park.

The gelded son of Cajun Breeze is set to square off against Arindel's Gatsby, whom he defeated by a hard-fought length in the $100,000 FSS Dr. Fager, the Aug. 1 first leg of the tradition rich series for 2-year-olds sired by accredited Florida stallions. The homebred gelding rushed to the lead from his rail post position, set a pressured pace and battled back when headed by Gatsby to prevail in the six-furlong sprint.

Trained by Ralph Nicks, Breeze On By is undefeated in two starts, including a sensational front-running six-length victory in his July 12 debut at Gulfstream. Stonehedge and Nicks will also be represented by Seazan, a son of Khozan who broke his maiden in his second career start on the Dr. Fager undercard.

Gatsby, a homebred son of Brethren who finished 8 ¼ lengths clear of the third-place finisher in the Dr. Fager, won his April 12 debut, in which he chased odds-on favorite Golden Pal into the stretch before edging away to victory by three-quarters of a length. The Wesley Ward-trained Golden Pal went on to finish second in the Norfolk (G2) at Royal Ascot, while Gatsby finished off-the-board in the June 27 Bashford Manor (G3) at Churchill Downs. Gatsby rebounded with a strong effort in the Dr. Fager.

The field for the seven-furlong Affirmed is also expected to include Kenneth Fishbein's Boca Boy and Trilogy Stable and Laurie Plesa's Famous Gent, who finished third and fourth, respectively, in the Dr. Fager.

Kenny McPeek, who trains the No. 1-ranked 3-year-old filly in the country in Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) and Alabama (G1) winner Swiss Skydiver, will seek dominance in the Florida Sire Stakes filly division with newcomer Raining Sunshine in the $200,000 Susan's Girl . Martin Erin Haught's homebred daughter of First Dude graduated in her second career start while romping to a 5 ¾-length maiden victory at Gulfstream Aug. 2.

Stonehedge LLC, which has won 14 Florida Sire Stakes series races, will also be well represented in the seven-furlong Susan's Girl by Go Jo Jo Go, who captured the first leg of the Florida Sire Stakes series for fillies. The Michael Yates-trained daughter of Khozan closed from last to capture the $100,000 Desert Vixen by 1 ¼ lengths over favored Princess Secret. Stonehedge LLC will also be represented by Oh Deborah, a Ralph Nicks-trained daughter of Winslow Homer who debuted with a 3 ½-length victory in a $50,000 maiden claiming race by 3 ¼ lengths July 19.

Princess Secret, a daughter of Khozan owned and trained by Daniel Pita, is expected to try to make amends in the seven-furlong Susan's Girl. Princess Secret, who debuted May 7 with a four-length victory, finished a troubled second behind highly regarded Papetu while taking on the boys in a July 5 allowance before finishing second in the Desert Vixen.

Arindel's Freak, a daughter of Brethren who finished a nose behind Princess Secret while checking in third in the Desert Vixen, is slated to return in the Susan's Girl. Arindel will also be represented by Lyrical, a daughter of Brethren who finished sixth in the Desert Vixen.

Trainer Steven Dwoskin's Alluramore, a daughter of Gone Astray who finished an even fourth in the Desert Vixen, is expected to run in the Susan's Girl.

The Florida Sire Stakes series is scheduled to wrap up Sept. 26 with the $400,000 In Reality and the $400,000 My Dear Girl for fillies.

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Impressive Debut Winner Tamiami Tops Saturday’s Florida Sire Stakes Desert Vixen

A1A Racing's homebred Tamiami, an impressive debut winner last month despite encountering a world of trouble at the start, will seek a smoother trip but a similar result in Saturday's $100,000 Desert Vixen Division of the Florida Sire Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

The Desert Vixen for fillies and $100,000 Dr. Fager, both at six furlongs, kick off the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association's annual series for 2-year-olds sired by nominated stallions standing in Florida. It continues with the $200,000 Affirmed and $200,000 Susan's Girl Aug. 29, and concludes with the $400,000 In Reality and $400,000 My Dear Girl Sept. 26.

Post time for Saturday's 11-race program is noon.

From the barn of seven-time Eclipse Award winner Todd Pletcher, Gulfstream's 14-time Championship Meet leading trainer, Tamiami carried high expectations from both her connections and the public at her June 21 unveiling, sent off as the favorite in a field of nine.

Under jockey Edgard Zayas, who returns to ride Saturday from Post 5 in a field of 10, Tamiami stumbled out of the gate and bumped with Frankly My Dear to her inside and had just one horse beat after a quarter-mile, trailing by 6 ½ lengths. She still had much to do when Zayas swung her four wide off the turn, but she came with a steady drive on the far outside to edge Frankly My Dear by a head in 1:00.71 for five furlongs.

Tamiami's sire, Rattlesnake Bridge, was also a first-out winner at Gulfstream as a 3-year-old in 2011, going on to run second in that year's Travers (G1) behind the Pletcher-trained Stay Thirsty. The filly has remained at Gulfstream since her graduation with a trio of half-mile works over the main track.

“I thought it was a gutsy first out for her. She didn't get away well and stumbled, but she closed resolutely and kept coming. She should appreciate the little bit of added distance,” Pletcher said. “I didn't give her much hope of getting up from where she started, but she's pretty determined and she's got a lot of desire. Hopefully, that'll carry over. This will be a much tougher race, but she hopefully responds.”

Also exiting an impressive debut triumph in her lone start, albeit on the turf, is Joseph Imbesi's Social Exclusion. Trained by Steve Klesaris, the bay filly became the first winner for Gulfstream track record holder Social Inclusion July 1, a race Klesaris was designed to get her to Saturday.

“We kind of had this race earmarked for her. We always thought she had the talent. She really needed to get a race into her within the time frame,” he said. “We weren't really looking for turf, but the timing came up perfect so we went ahead and ran her on the turf just to get the race into her having this race in mind.”

Social Exclusion broke running from her inside post, established the early lead and went on to a front-running 4 ¾-length win in 56.50 seconds for five furlongs. Emisael Jaramillo, aboard for the race, gets the return call from outside Post 10.

“She's always shown us ability. Certainly there was a little bit of a question mark with the turf. I did feel that she would handle it. Maybe it's not her ideal surface, but the most important thing was to give her a race and give her enough time to recover from the race and be able to train forwardly into this weekend's stake,” Klesaris said. “She's done everything correctly coming into the race. We're happy with her progress and hopefully she can take her ability to the next level. We're looking forward to it.”

Owned and trained by Daniel Pita, Princess Secret steps up into stakes company for her third start. The bay daughter of Khozan romped by four lengths, going 4 ½ furlongs in 51.94 seconds May 7 at Gulfstream, then came back to face the boys in a 5 ½-furlong optional claiming allowance July 5.

In that race, she took a hard bump at the start and found herself far back early but was able to settle in and come running on the outside to be a decisive second, 1 ½ lengths behind undefeated Papetu. Making the effort more remarkable, Pita said, was that she was able to perform well despite suffering a minor injury.

“Unfortunately she grabbed a quarter at the start of that race and bent a shoe, so it made it a little bit even more impressive that she ran so well against those horses,” Pita said. “She faced a good 3-year-old. She just wasn't able to catch them but Papetu seems like he can run, too. She had a little bit of a setback and missed a couple days of training after that race but it didn't end up being something to worry about. She healed beautifully. We got on top of it since the day of the race and she got back to form.”

Princess Secret had her lone work for the Desert Vixen July 25, going a half-mile in 48.80 seconds over Gulfstream's main track. Miguel Vasquez is named to ride back from Post 9.

“She showed very early in her training that she was going to be a talented filly. She's the type of horse that basically does everything right. Nothing really bothers her. She'll do whatever you ask her to, and that makes training a 2-year-old a lot easier than having one with the immaturity and things that are attached to training 2-year-olds,” Pita said. “She's very mature, she does everything the right way and she's extremely smart. It's a matter of getting her fit and letting her loose.”

Oh Deborah will make the quick 13-day turnaround for the Desert Vixen off a 3 ¼-length maiden claiming score July 19 at Gulfstream for trainer Ralph Nicks. She is one of two Stonehedge homebreds entered, along with Michael Yates-trained Go Jo Jo Go, who has one third from three starts.

“I thought she would run well,” Nicks said of Oh Deborah's debut. “It looks like a bit more ground will be good for her. She was striding out and finishing up well.”

Arindel will also be represented by a pair of homebreds, Lyrical and Freak. Fifth in her maiden special weight debut May 5 behind Princess Secret, Lyrical exits an 8 ¾-length maiden claiming romp June 26, both at Gulfstream. In her only start, Freak was third after having to steady late in a six-furlong maiden special weight July 11.

Most experienced in the field with four starts is Rolling Meadows Farm's Sophisticurl. The Ride On Curlin filly upset Frankly My Dear by a head after dueling throughout in a 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight July 15. Tundra Racing Stable's Frankly My Dear, by Jess's Dream, seeks her first career win following a pair of seconds.

Steve Dwoskin-trained Alluramore is entered to make her race debut in the Desert Vixen. The daughter of Gone Astray shows six works since June 20 at Gulfstream, including a five-furlong move from the gate in 1:00.50 July 25.

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Trainer Ralph Nicks Doubles Up In For Florida Sires Stakes Dr. Fager

Trainer Ralph Nicks has become a major Florida Sire Stakes player in recent years, saddling the winners of six races since 2016 in the tradition-rich series for 2-year-olds sired by accredited stallions standing in Florida.

Nicks, who has been based year-round in Florida since Gulfstream Park instituted a Spring/Summer Meet in 2013, will seek to continue his Florida Sire Stakes success in the $100,000 Dr. Fager, which will co-headline Saturday's Florida Sire Stakes program with the $100,000 Desert Vixen for fillies. Both stakes will be contested at six furlongs.

Nicks' two entries in the Dr. Fager – Stonehedge LLC's Breeze On By and Jacks or Better Farm's Little Demon – aren't likely to be regarded lightly in the first leg of the series. Not only will they be saddled by a trainer who has demonstrated a deft hand with juveniles, but they will also represent the two most successful owners in the history of the series that was inaugurated in 1982.

Gil Campbell and his Stonehedge Farm have amassed 12 Florida Sire Stakes victories, including a series sweep by Scandalous Act (2013). Fred Brei's Jacks or Better Farm has won a record 19 races in the lucrative series, including series sweeps by half-brothers Jackson Bend (2009) and Fort Loudon (2011), as well as Awesome Feather (2010), who went on to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and an Eclipse Award.

Nicks has already visited the Florida Sire Stakes winner's circle with Stonehedge LLC's Lucky Charm (2019 Affirmed) and Jacks or Better Farm's Garter and Tie (2018 Affirmed) among his six FSS successes.

“They both have good programs and they're both great to work for,” Nicks said. “We're on the same page.”

Stonehedge LLC's Breeze On By made a rather auspicious debut while capturing a July 12 maiden special weight race at Gulfstream by six lengths. The homebred son of Cajun Breeze ran the six-furlong distance in 1:11.82.

“It was a very impressive race. I'm not crazy about the three weeks wheel-back,” said Nicks, who would have had as many as three Dr. Fager entrants had Stonehedge LLC's sharp debut winner Big Daddy Dave not come down with a fever. “But with the one sick, and the one doing well, you better lead him over there.”

Jacks or Better Farm's Little Demon will enter Florida Sire Stakes action as a maiden but showed promise while finishing second in his June 20 debut, in which he chased loose-on-the-lead Papetu and finished 2 ¾ lengths clear of the third-place finisher. Papetu went on to capture the first allowance for 2-year-olds this year at Gulfstream and is being pointed to the Aug. 7 Saratoga Special (G2).

“He came out of a good race. He ran well and is training well,” said Nicks, who saddled Raroma Stable's Phantom Ro for a victory in the 2017 Dr. Fager. “Hopefully, he'll move forward.”

Before going on his own, Nicks was involved in the training of two-time Horse of the Year Cigar and many other veteran stakes stars as an assistant to Hall of Fame Bill Mott, but he has rapidly built a reputation for developing promising juveniles.

“It's always fun to see them come up and see them mature and develop. We got some earlier this year than in the past, but it's funny how some of them are just coming around and doing well,” Nicks said. “Two-year-olds – everybody shoots for them. If you don't have 2-year-olds, you don't have a future.”

Emisael Jaramillo has the return mount aboard Breeze On By, while Samy Camacho is scheduled to ride Little Demon for the first time Saturday.

Seven-time Eclipse Award winner Todd Pletcher, who has captured 16 Championship Meet titles at Gulfstream, appears to have a solid shot at winning his first Florida Sire Stakes while basing a stable division at Gulfstream during his first Sprint/Summer Meet for the first time.

J A G Racing and Jettany Thoroughbred Corp.'s Son of a Beast, a gutsy debut winner at Gulfstream, is scheduled to return for Pletcher in the Dr. Fager. The son of The Big Beast set a pressured pace throughout a five-furlong maiden special weight race June 24 and continued on gamely to prevail by three-quarters of a length.

“I thought he was impressive in his debut. I'm looking forward to running him,” said Pletcher, who will also be represented by debut winner Tamiami in the Desert Vixen. “He's always trained well. We expected him to come out running first time, so we sort of had this race in mind for a while.”

Edgard Zayas has the return call on Son of a Beast.

Arindel's Gatsby, an impressive debut winner April 17, will be looking to rebound from an off-the-board finish in the June 27 Bashford Manor (G3) at Churchill Downs. The homebred son of Brethren pulled off an upset victory over heavily favored Golden Pal in his debut at 4 ½ furlongs, chasing the Wesley Ward-trained odds-on favorite into the stretch before edging clear by three-quarters of a length. Golden Pal went on to finish second in the Norfolk (G2) at Royal Ascot.

Hector Berrios is slated to ride the Juan Alvarado-trained Gatsby for the first time Saturday.

Trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. will seek his 13th Florida Sire Stakes success with Famous Gent, a son of First Dude owned and bred by his wife, Laurie, and Trilogy Stable.

Famous Gent rallied from off the pace to graduate in his second start June 5 while running five furlongs in 58.87 seconds. He lost all chance at the start of a subsequent allowance after encountering heavy bumping but closed to finish third behind highly regarded Papetu.

Cristian Torres has the return mount.

Kenneth Fishbein's Boca Boy enters the Dr. Fager off an impressive 7 ½-length win in his July 17 debut at Gulfstream. The son of Prospective led throughout the 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight race under Angel Arroyo, who has the return call on the Cheryl Winebaugh trainee.

Edward Schuster's Valiant Thor, a homebred son of Two Step Salsa, is slated to make his first start at Gulfstream Saturday after scoring a front-running 8 ½-length victory in his July 1 debut at Tampa Bay Downs. Ronnie Allen Jr. is named to ride by Dennis Ward-trained juvenile.

Trainer Michael Maker will be represented by two juveniles in the Dr. Fager – Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher's Casalsa, a son of Two Step Salsa who was claimed for $50,000 out of a front-running victory June 27 in his second start, and Three Diamonds Farm's Lost Lover, a son of Gone Astray who is slated to make his debut Saturday.

Magic Stables LLC's Paladio and Oakleaf Farm's Mr. Tingles, who both graduated in the claiming ranks, and All Together Stable's Social Equality, an unraced maiden, round out the field.

The Dr. Fager the Desert Vixen will be followed by the $200,000 Affirmed and the $200,000 Susan's Girl for fillies, both slated for seven furlongs Aug. 29, and the $400,000 In Reality and the $400,000 My Dear Girl for fillies, both to be run around two turns at 1 1/16 miles Sept. 26.

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