Breeze On By Stays Undefeated in FSS Affirmed Division
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Ryan Thompson
Breeze On By wins the Affirmed division of the Florida Sire Stakes series at Gulfstream Park
Breeze On By led a 1-2-3-4 finish for Stonehedge at Gulfstream Park Aug. 29 with a commanding 7 1/2-length victory in the $200,000 Affirmed division of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series. The Affirmed is the second leg of the series for juveniles sired by accredited Florida stallions.
Trainer Ralph Nicks won his fourth consecutive running of the Affirmed. He saddled Breeze On By for a victory in the Dr. Fager division, the first leg, four weeks earlier. The Cajun Breeze gelding also gave Nicks his eighth Florida Sire Stakes success since 2016 while providing Gil Campbell's Stonehedge Farm with a 15th victory in the series.
"I just feel blessed to be in Florida for seven years and win this many (Sire) series," said Nicks, who captured the Affirmed the previous three seasons with Soutache (2017), Garter and Tie (2018), and Liam's Lucky Charm (2019). "I learned early on that you need to be a part of this and was lucky to have owners send me some talented horses, and it's worked."
The Nicks-trained Big Daddy Dave and Seazan finished second and third, respectively, and the Kathleen O'Connell-trained Top Boss finished fourth to round out the Stonehedge superfecta.
Breeze On By, the 4-5 favorite ridden by Emisael Jaramillo, broke alertly from the starting gate but was beaten for the early lead by Gatsby, who showed the way along the backstretch under a hustling ride by Hector Berrios. Breeze On By pressed the pace during swift fractions of :22.14 and :44.22 for the first half-mile before putting away the tiring pacesetter on the turn into the homestretch and drawing away to a comfortable victory.
Breeze On By ran seven furlongs in 1:22.75 on the fast track. Bred by Stonehedge out of the stakes-placed Fusaichi Pegasus mare Miss Primetime, he is undefeated in three starts with earnings of $223,000.
"They're nice horses. Thank you to Stonehedge for sending us some great horses. We're lucky to work with such talented horses," Nicks said. "Breeze On By was able to rate and sit there with Big Daddy Dave in the hunt and could have pushed if he needed to, but he will settle and follow if he needs to.
Breeze On By is scheduled to make a bid to become the fifth male to sweep the Florida Sire Stakes in the In Reality division, the 1 1/16-mile series finale Sept. 26. With a victory, he would join Three Rules (2016), Sir Oscar (2003), Seacliff (1995), and Smile (1984).
"Doing this series is tough on them, and we'll see," Nicks said. "There are two other horses in this race that ran well, so nothing will be a gift, but it's nice to have a horse this talented and have those options in front of you."
Video: FTBOA Florida Sire Affirmed S. (BT)
Princess Secret Duels to Susan's Girl Victory
Princess Secret shook off an upset in the Desert Vixen division of the Florida Sire Stakes series four weeks ago and a stretch-long bid Saturday to score a hard-earned victory in the $200,000 Susan's Girl division, the second leg of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes for juvenile fillies sired by accredited Florida stallions.
Princess Secret, who finished second in the first leg of the series as the even-money favorite for owner/trainer Daniel Pita, came through in the Susan's Girl as the 6-5 favorite. The daughter of Khozan chased longshot pacesetter Lyrical during fractions of :22.64 and :45.22 for the first half-mile before moving to the lead on the turn into the homestretch, only to immediately meet an outside challenge from Oh Deborah.
Princess Secret fends off Oh Deborah to win the Susan's Girl division of the Florida Sire Stakes series at Gulfstream Park
Princess Secret responded gamely to jockey Miguel Vasquez's urging to prevail over Oh Deborah by three-quarters of a length, completing seven furlongs in 1:23.02 on a fast track.
"She's a very gutsy filly. She doesn't like to lose," Pita said.
Oh Deborah finished four lengths clear of third-place finisher Go Jo Jo Go.
Princess Secret was bred by Brent and Crystal Fernung out of the Belong to Me mare Golden Horseshoe, also the dam of multiple stakes-placed Epic Journey. She was purchased for $30,000 by Manuel Pita at the 2019 Ocala Breeders' Sales October Yearlings Sale from the consignment of Journeyman Bloodstock Services. The filly has two wins and two seconds from four starts and earnings of $194,300.
"This is hope for when you go to the sales and pick yearlings," Pita said. "We don't have millions of dollars. We always try to get some sort of bargain. She was a nice purchase by a stallion that seems to get nice runners. We were lucky enough to get her."
Pita is confident that Princess Secret will carry her speed around two turns in the My Dear Girl division, the 1 1/16-mile finale of the Florida Sires Stakes series Sept. 26.
"I think breeding is going to be the biggest factor in the next leg of the series. I think she showed it today," Pita said. "Hopefully, she'll come out of the race in good order and we'll see you in four weeks."