Chance It, Lenzi's Lucky Lady Back for Florida Series

Shooting Star Thoroughbreds' Chance It will have the opportunity to live up to the hype in the $200,000 Affirmed Division and Lenzi's Lucky Lady is scheduled to put her undefeated record on the line in the $200,000 Susan's Girl Division of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association Florida Sire Stakes Aug. 31 at Gulfstream Park.

The seven-furlong Affirmed co-headlines Saturday's program with the seven-furlong Susan's Girl for fillies in the second leg of the series for 2-year-olds sired by accredited Florida stallions.

Shooting Star Thoroughbreds' Chance It created buzz June 29 when he broke his maiden by 9 1/4 lengths under wraps, producing the fastest Beyer Speed Figure (91) for a 2-year-old in the country at the time. The son of Currency Swap offered an impressive encore performance Aug. 3 with a dominating victory in the $100,000 FSS Dr. Fager, matching the 91 speed figure of his maiden triumph while prevailing by 3 1/4 lengths.

"The margin wasn't as big, but the number was the same. It came back with 91 again," trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. "He was on the inside and he had to be used a bit. I knew he was legit, but it was nice to see that progression."

Connections Hit Bull's-Eye With Chance It

Chance It, who debuted with a second-place finish in a five-furlong maiden race at Gulfstream June 1, is slated to stretch out from six furlongs to seven furlongs in the series that will conclude with the $400,000 In Reality at 1 1/16 miles Sept. 28.

"I feel fairly comfortable with him going a mile, a mile-and-a-sixteenth. They have to do it, but he doesn't show distance limitations right now," Joseph said. "With Currency Swap, you think sprinting, but on his dam's side, he has Pleasantly Perfect.

"He's a good looking horse. The only thing you can knock him about is his pedigree. He has no pedigree," he added. "But he's a good looking horse and when you put him on the track, he wants to achieve. He's willing. He always wants to do more."

Leading rider Edgard Zayas has the return mount aboard Chance It, the 3-5 morning-line favorite who breezed three furlongs in :37.83 Aug. 28 at Gulfstream in preparation for a start in the Affirmed.

Trainer Ralph Nicks entered two horses in the Affirmed in a quest to saddle his third straight winner in the seven-furlong stakes named for the Florida-bred 1978 Triple Crown champion, Stonehedge's Liam's Lucky Charm being the more formidable contender. The son of Khozan  finished second behind Chance It in the Dr. Fager after being bumped at the start.

Nicks-trained Shivaree, a half brother to last year's winner Garter and Tie, will attempt to break his maiden in the Affirmed after finishing third in his second career race last time out.

"We won it last year with his brother, who broke his maiden in there. So we'll try to duplicate the same effort," Nicks said. "That whole family—I've had three of them now—have been slow learners. A bit of ground will help him too. He's training really well and has been moving forward since his last race."

The Jacks or Better Farm homebred colt will be ridden by Jeffrey Sanchez.

Stonehedge homebred Lenzi's Lucky Lady captured the first leg of the filly division, scoring a 4 1/4-length victory in the $100,000 Desert Vixen at six furlongs Aug. 3. The daughter of With Distinction previously won the June 28 Golden Isles Stakes by 5 1/4 lengths following her debut victory June 6 by a half-length.

"She comes from a really good family, and she has a lot of talent," said trainer Kathleen O'Connell.

The filly is out of Blue Eyed Sweetie, an O'Connell-trained multiple-stakes winner whose dam, Brown Eyed Woman, produced 2013 FSS Affirmed winner My Brown Eyed Guy.

Jairo Rendon, who has been aboard Lenzi's Lucky Lady for all three victories, has the return mount Saturday on the morning-line favorite.

Lenzi's Lucky Lady gave O'Connell and Gil Campbell's Stonehedge their 10th successes in the Florida Sire Stakes series. They teamed for Susan's Girl victories with Scandalous Act (2013) and Ivanavinalot (2002).

Stonehedge and O'Connell also will be represented in the Susan's Girl by Marrens Marvel, another homebred daughter of With Distinction, who finished eighth in the Desert Vixen.

"She got bounced around four times at the start and got cut up. She was on antibiotics for days," O'Connell said. "I'm running her back because I think she deserves a second chance and I think the extra distance will help her."

Prior to her rough trip in the Desert Vixen, Marrens Marvel captured her May 11 debut by a neck with a late rally. Jeffrey Sanchez has the mount.