Parranda Seeks More Gulf Glory in Honey Fox
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Lone Stable’s Parranda, coming off back-to-back stakes victories at Gulfstream Park, will attempt to add to her impressive record at the Hallandale, Fla., track when she takes on several rivals in the $200,000 Honey Fox Stakes (gr. IIT) at one mile March 15.
Parranda, who captured the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf and Suwannee River Stakes (gr. IIIT) by open lengths in her last two starts, has won four grass stakes in four starts at Gulfstream since September and is 6-for-11 lifetime over the track.
Trained by Rodolfo Garcia, the daughter of English Channel has won eight of her 20 career starts overall for earnings of just under $450,000. She will carry topweight of 121 pounds under the allowance conditions and will break from post 5 under Elvis Trujillo.
The Honey Fox will be the biggest test of class in Parranda’s career, as she faces multiple graded stakes winner Centre Court, winner of the Jenny Wiley Stakes (gr. IT) at Keeneland, as well as last year’s running of the Honey Fox. The daughter of Smart Strike , however, has not been in the money in her last three starts and has not run since finishing eighth in the Ballston Spa Stakes (gr. IIT) last August at Saratoga Race Course.
Julien Leparoux, who has ridden Centre Court in the majority of her races, is back aboard and gets in with 117 pounds.
Another classy rival is Tapicat, who has been out of the money only twice in her 10 career starts and is coming off a sharp third in the Buena Vista Handicap (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita Park Feb. 17. The daughter of Tapit has won the Florida Oaks (gr. IIIT) at Tampa Bay Downs and Voodoo Dancer Stakes at Gulfstream and was second in the Lake George Stakes (gr. IIT) at Saratoga last year.
John Velazquez gets the mount for trainer Bill Mott and will break from post 7.
Breaking on the far outside will be Kitten's Point, an allowance winner last time out who captured the Herecomesthebride Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream last year and was a well-beaten third behind Emollient in the Central Bank Ashland Stakes (gr. I) over Keeneland’s Polytrack. Edgar Prado will be back aboard.
To demonstrate the depth of this field, there is also the Rick Violette-trained Effie Trinket, a close second in the Mrs. Revere Stakes (gr. IIT) at Churchill Downs last November. The New York-bred daughter of Freud also captured a pair of state-bred races last year at Belmont Park.
Another stakes-placed filly in top form is Triple Arch, coming off a third in the Sabin Stakes (gr. IIT) over the Gulfstream turf course for trainer Marcus Vitali.
Chris Clement could be sitting on a live longshot with the English-bred Triple Charm, an allowance winner at Gulfstream Feb. 7 in only her second start in the U.S. The former British handicapper has won in England carrying a staggering 138 pounds. Joe Bravo has the mount under 117 pounds.
Sonja's Angel was entered as Main Track Only.
$200,000 Honey Fox Stakes (gr. II, Race 10, 5:36 p.m.), Fillies & Mares 4 & Up, 1 Mile
PP/Horse/Jockey/Wt/Trainer
1. Effie Trinket (NY), L. Saez, 119, R. Violette Jr.
2. Triple Charm (GB), J. Bravo, 117, C. Clement
3. Triple Arch (KY), O. Bocachica, 117, M.J. Vitali
4. Run A Risk (KY), J. Rocco Jr.,117, G.R. Arnold II
5. Parranda (FL), E Trujillo, 121, R. Garcia
6. Centre Court (KY),J. Leparoux, 117, G.R. Arnold II
7. Tapicat (KY), J. Velazquez, 119, W. Mott
8. Kitten’s Point (PA). E. Prado, 117, H.G. Motion
9. Sonja’s Angel (KY) (MTO, J. Castellano, 117, P. Walder