Trainer Nicks To Saddle Two In Search Of Fifth Straight Win In FSS Affirmed

Trainer Ralph Nicks is scheduled to make yet another title defense in Saturday's $200,000 Affirmed at Gulfstream Park, seeking to continue his domination in the seven-furlong second leg of the tradition rich FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series for 2-year-olds sired by accredited stallions standing in Florida.

The Affirmed will co-headline Gulfstream Park's 12-race FSS program with the $200,000 Susan's Girl, a seven-furlong stakes for 2-year-old fillies. The 12-race Saturday program has a first race post of 12:20 p.m. and includes five turf races and 122 entries.

Nicks, whose stable is based year-round at Gulfstream Park, is slated to saddle two horses for the 11-horse Affirmed field – Heiligbrodt Racing Stable and Spendthrift Farm's Cattin, an impressive debut winner July 31, and Jacks or Better Farm Inc.'s Awesome Crusader, a three-race maiden who rallied for second last time out at 74-1.

The 54-year-old trainer, who has saddled a total of nine winners in the Florida Sire Stakes series, overall, has visited the Affirmed winner's circle with Breeze On By (2020), Liam's Lucky Charm (2019), Garter and Tie (2018) and Soutache (2017) the past four years.

“I came to Florida when Gulfstream went to year-round racing. It's a program that you need to be active in,” Nicks said. “In six years, we've been fortunate – my crew and clients – to win nine of them now. It's been great. It's kind of surreal. Each additional one adds up for the crew and clientele. They send me horses to target this. The Racing Gods have allowed us [to excel]. We've been fortunate so far.”

Cattin overcame early trouble to win at first asking in a 5 ½-furlong $50,000 claiming race, drawing away by 3 ¾ lengths.

“He didn't make any mistakes that day. It ended up being kind of an easy race on him because he got in a little bit of trouble and didn't overdo it early,” Nicks said. “There should be a bit of gas left in the tank.”

The son of Neolithic has had a pair of easy half-mile breezes in preparation for his return in the Affirmed.

“He's worked well. He's happy. He's had a race, so it's not a fitness thing,” Nicks said. “Can he get the distance? I think he will with his brain. He has enough speed to be tactical if he needs to be.”

Awesome Crusader, who had finished a distant fourth in a $50,000 maiden claimer in his second career start, showed vast improvement to finish second at long, long odds, against maiden special weight company.

“He's getting better all along,” Nicks said. “I liked him the other day when he was second. I'm not a gambler but it would have been a big payday for anyone who was if they knew what I knew from the time before. He was sick. He was full of mucous and had a fever the next day, so that race was a throw-out.”

Awesome Crusader, who will seek to give Jacks or Better Farm is record-extending 20th FSS success in the Affirmed, closed steadily under Jesus Rios to finish three lengths behind King Cab, whom he will me again Saturday.

“He's still learning. Jesus had to be busy on him on the backside just to maintain some kind of distance of the race,” Nicks said. “He's a grinder. He keeps coming. Those type of horses get better as they go along. When we won the race with Garter and Tie, he was a maiden the same way. We were learning as we went.”

Luca Panici has the call on Cattin, while Cristian Torres will ride Awesome Crusader, who is a son of Greenpointcrusader.

The Nicks trainees will be making their respective FSS debuts Saturday while facing Stonehedge LLC's Cajun's Magic, the 7-5 favorite who won the the $100,000 Dr. Fager following a protracted stretch duel with Stonehedge LLC's Dean Delivers. The Michael Yates-trained stablemates finished a neck apart while finishing 10 lengths clear of the third-place finisher.

“It was pretty exciting. It was a great horse race. It's not often that you're in that position,” said Yates, who owned and trained Cajun Breeze during his racing career.

Cajun's Magic settled off the early pace before making a three-wide sweep into the stretch under Jesus Rios to engage Dean Delivers and jockey Miguel Vasquez in a spirited battle to the wire.

“I wanted them to ride their horses as the race developed. I didn't want them to worry about each other. I told them, 'Just ride your horse,'” Yates said.

Cajun's Magic, who finished second in his debut and broke his maiden by 4 ¾ lengths while being involved in the early pace, demonstrated versatility while winning the Dr. Fager from off the pace.

“I kind of expected that he would [show more versatility] because in his first race, he didn't break on top; he was in traffic and made a middle move. That was due to me not being overly aggressive with his gate works before his first start,” Yates said.

Jesus Rios has the return mount aboard Cajun's Magic.

Despite breaking slowly from the gate in Aug. 6 debut, David Melin, Leon Ellman and Laurie Plesa's King Cab (9-2) was in full control while outrunning Awesome Crusader and 10 other rivals. The son of Noble Bird, who was favored in his six-furlong debut off a series of strong breezes, was prepared for the seven furlongs of the Affirmed with a signature Eddie Plesa Jr. one-mile workout.

Samy Camacho has the return mount.

Arindel will be represented in the Affirmed by a quartet of homebred sons of Brethren, Carlos David-trained Octane and Juan Alvarado-trained Clapton, Gilligan and Merlin. Octane overcame traffic to graduate in his second start in a five-furlong maiden special weight race July 17. Clapton also graduated in his second start, rallying five-wide to win a six-furlong maiden special weight race July 24. Gillian is coming off a maiden-breaking win in $25,000 claiming company, while Merlin has finished second three times in four starts.

Emisael Jaramillo has the call on Octane; Chantal Sutherland has the return mount on Clapton; Edgard Zayas has accepted the mount on Gilligan; and Miguel Vasquez will ride Merlin.

Amalio Ruiz-Lozano's Gold Special, who finished a distant third in the Dr. Fager; Lea Farms LLC's Lightening Larry, who defeated Gold Special, Octane and Clapton while breaking his maiden June 18; and Alex and JoAnn Lieblong's Big And Classy, who has fifth in the Dr. Fager; round out the field,

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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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