Jacks or Better Loaded in Florida Sire Stakes

Undefeated Twotwentyfive A will have plenty of back-up in the $350,000 In Reality Division of the $1.4 million Florida Sire Stakes Series Oct. 4 at Gulfstream Park.

The 2-year-old son of Awesome of Course   is one of four horses entered by breeder/owner Fred Brei's Jacks or Better Farm and trainer Stanley Gold in a 12-horse field assembled for the 1 1/16-mile stakes for juveniles sired by nominated stallions standing in Florida.



Twotwentyfive A provided his breeder/owner and trainer with their respective 15th Florida Sire Stakes success with a late-charging victory in the $250,000 Affirmed Sept. 6. Stablemate Sing Praises, who had captured the $100,000 Dr. Fager in the series' first division Aug.9, finished just a neck back after setting the pace and has also been entered for the In Reality. Hear That Tune, a recent maiden winner, and Southern Barbecue, a full brother to multiple grade I winner and 2009 Sire Stakes sweeper Jackson Bend, are both ready to back up their more accomplished stablemates.

Also on Saturday's Gulfstream card, the duo has a pair of 2-year-old fillies in the $350,000 My Dear Girl at the same distance. They are Leap Year Luck, who captured the $100,000 Desert Vixen to kick off the Florida Sire Stakes Series for 2-year-old fillies at Gulfstream Aug. 9, and stablemate Awesome Ice .

Twotwentyfive A debuted at Gulfstream Aug. 3, closing fast to win going away by 3 3/4 lengths over 5 1/2 furlongs under jockey Abdiel Jaen. Sing Praises, on the strength of his front-running romp in the Dr. Fager was favored at 2-5 in the seven-furlong Affirmed, but Twotwentyfive A made a late surge to catch him in the shadow of the finish line.

"We knew he had speed, but the first time he showed a lot of poise when Abdiel decided to take him back instead of going with the two speed horses. He sat back and relaxed before swinging wide in the stretch," Gold said. "Second time, in the Sire Stakes, Jaen rode him with a lot of confidence. He knew what he could do and he had them measured just right. He'll probably be at his best at this distance."

After coming up short in the Affirmed, there is a question if the two-turn distance will suit Sing Praises.

"We'll see. I don't know," Gold said. "We know he has speed, but I don't think he got beat by the distance last time. I think he got beat because Twotwentyfive A came on and we were a little bit overconfident with Sing Praises."

Jaen has been named to ride Twotwentyfive A again, while Ramsey Zimmerman has the return mount aboard Sing Praises.

Hear That Tune debuted victoriously Sept. 5 after setting the pace most of the way in a mile maiden test.

"He broke his maiden going a mile, so we know he'll go the distance," said Gold, who named leading rider Edgard Zayas to ride the son of Hear No Evil  .

Southern Barbecue, also a son of Hear No Evil, is coming off a maiden victory at six furlongs in his fourth lifetime start.

"Southern Barbecue is a brother to Jackson Bend, who preferred one turn, but he would go up to a mile," Gold said.

Jaiden's Best, a Gil Campbell homebred trained by Kathleen O'Connell, is set to challenge the Gold trainees again in the In Reality, after finishing a late-running third in both the Dr. Fager and the Affirmed.

Wesley Ward-trained Boozin Time, who finished fourth in the Affirmed, is the only other winner in the field, having beaten $16,000 maiden claiming company by eight lengths.