Three Rules Sweeps Florida Sire Stakes Series

Three Rules won the $500,000 In Reality division of the Florida Sire Stakes Oct. 1 at Gulfstream Park to complete a three-race sweep of the series' open division for 2-year-olds while Cajun Delta Dawn was denied a sweep of the juvenile fillies division when fourth to winner Dude Fantasy in the $500,000 My Dear Girl.

Shade Tree Thoroughbreds' homebred Three Rules dominated in the In Reality in winning by 10 lengths under Cornelio Velasquez.  The son of Gone Astray  , trained by Jose Pinchin, was timed in 1:44.63 on a fast track to win as the 3-10 favorite and likely earned a trip to Santa Anita Park for a start in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) Nov. 5.

Starting from post 2, Three Rules secured the inside pressured by 60-1 longshot He's the One a half length back through a half mile in :48.12. Increasing his advantage from there, he opened a three-length lead as six furlongs went in 1:12.79 and extended his command to an unassailable nine lengths in early stretch. Thegreatcollection saved ground during a stalking trip to finish second, 8 1/4 lengths ahead of Dont Come Knockin.

"The horse won easy. I wanted to go easy on the lead and wait until the last quarter to ask him a little bit, but I saw on the TV that I got it, so I decided to save him for the end next time," Velasquez said. "He was very relaxed. He doesn't need to stay on the lead, but the competition wasn't too much and he wanted to go easy on the lead. He's a nice horse."

Three Rules, from the Full Mandate mare Joy Rules, is the fourth horse to emerge from the Florida Sire series undefeated after sweeping the Dr. Fager, Affirmed and In Reality divisions, joining Smile (1984), Seacliff (1995), and Sir Oscar (2003).

Breaking from the outside post in the 13-horse field for the My Dear Girl, Cajun Delta Dawn chased pacesetter Sweet Tooth Heaven from a length back in second and advanced to challenge the lead three furlongs out, briefly battling for control before leading in the final furlong. She lacked the energy to kick on as Dude Fantasy came on to win by three-quarters of length. Surprise Wedding, next to last early in the 11-horse field, was up for second and Fleet Dude was third. 

"The race set up beautiful for me," said winning rider Tyler Gaffalione. "I just followed Cajun Delta Dawn the whole way. Around the turn I had a lot of horse, but I just waited and waited. When I found the spot, my filly just ran."

A Donald Dizney homebred trained by Ralph Nicks, Dude Fantasy is by First Dude   out of the Dixieland Band mare Dixieland Fantasy. She is perfect in both career starts following her debut victory Sept. 2 at Gulfstream, going six furlongs. The stretch out to 1 1/16 miles in the My Dear Girl was no problem as she finished the trip in 1:46.39.

Trainer David Fawkes said Cajun Delta Dawn, stablemate of runner-up Surprise Wedding, was compromised her post position. 

"The post killed her," he said of the filly the 9-5 favorite who won the series first two juvenile filly divisions: the Susan's Girl Sept. 3 and Desert Vixen Aug. 8. "I just talked to (jockey) Juan (Leyva)and he said, 'I had to use her. Otherwise, I'm going to get killed.' He rode a smart race. He did everything right. What did we get beat? A length? She ran huge."