Chance It Keeps Buzz Alive in Dr. Fager Stakes

Shooting Star Thoroughbreds's Chance It kept the buzz alive Aug. 3 at Gulfstream Park with a dominating 3 1/4-length victory in the $100,000 Dr. Fager division, the first leg of the 2019 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series.

The Dr. Fager, a six-furlong stakes for 2-year-olds sired by nominated stallions standing in Florida, co-headlined the Florida Sire Stakes program with the $100,000 Desert Vixen, a six-furlong sprint for 2-year-old fillies.

Chance It, who created a buzz June 29 when he earned the fastest Beyer Speed Figure (92) of any 2-year-old in the country at the time while breaking his maiden, was sent to post as the 1-5 favorite. The son of Currency Swap, who broke well from the No. 1 post position under Edgard Zayas, was immediately taken on by Man With a Plan, who was ridden hard by Emisael Jaramillo to take a narrow advantage along the backstretch.

Unable to ease his mount off the inside, Zayas remained patient aboard Chance It while being lapped on by the long-shot pacesetter. Zayas asked his mount for some run leaving the backstretch, and the Florida-bred colt quickly asserted himself to open a lead on the far turn. Liam's Lucky Charm made a strong sweeping moved on the turn into the homestretch but was no match for Chance It, who drew away to a comfortable victory.

"He was much the best," Zayas said. "It was awesome. It was incredible. The post position wasn't the best. But he made the best out of it and he showed that he had a lot of class."

Liam's Lucky Charm, the 12-1 third-choice, finished second, 10 1/4 lengths ahead of Absolute Grit, the 5-1 second choice who raced evenly under Christian Torres.

Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Chance It ran six furlongs in 1:11.22, a final clocking built on fractions of :22.53 and :45.82 seconds for the first half mile on a sealed main track rated good.

"It's a relief to get one more out of the way," Joseph said.

Chance It was greeted in the winner's circle by a large contingent from Shooting Star Thoroughbreds, a first-year ownership group managed by longtime trainer Mary Lightner.

"We had the speed right next to us so we were definitely concerned about that. But we went in thinking if he's good enough he can overcome these things and he showed today he could," Lightner said. "Edgard knows the horse really well and he does such a great job and Saffie, nobody could do a better job than Saffie getting him ready."

Chance It is out of Vagabon Diva, who was adopted for $250 and subsequently given away to Ocala breeder Bett Usher. The long-striding colt was purchased privately after a Lightner-trained half brother broke his maiden in his first start. Despite a modest pedigree, Chance It attracted several offers that were turned down.

"We have had a little bit of interest, the phone has been ringing a few times, but we're a racing syndicate and we wanted to do right by all these people," Lightner said. "It's hard to get a really good horse. So that's the direction we decided to go. To keep him and see what we can do in the Sire Stakes."

The open division of the Florida Sire Stakes series will continue with the running of the $200,000 Affirmed Aug. 31 and conclude with the $400,000 In Reality Sept.28.

"Mary turned down a lot of money, which is good for me because we get to keep the horse," Joseph said. "The horse is going to have a bright future."

Lenzi's Lucky Lady Remains Undefeated in Desert Vixen

Stonehedge's Lenzi's Lucky Lady kept her undefeated record in tact with a dominating victory in Saturday's $100,000 Desert Vixen, providing trainer Kathleen O'Connell with her 12th career success in the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Series.

The homebred juvenile daughter of With Distinction, who also provided Stonehedge's Gil Campbell with his 12th FSS success, remained undefeated in three career starts with her second straight stakes victory.

"It's always an awesome feeling," O'Connell said. "I've always loved the Florida-bred program. Mr. Campbell has been a big sponsor, a big help, and a big boost to my career."

Lenzi's Lucky Lady, who captured the June 28 Golden Isles stakes over a sloppy track, once again had no difficulty handling the off going for the first leg of the 2019 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series. After she broke alertly from the starting gate, the 9-5 favorite was eased back from the pace hotly contested by Ms Big Spring, Two Sixty, Sonar, and Marren's Marvel along the backstretch.

Heading into the far turn Jairo Rendon sent Lenzi's Lucky Lady to the outside of horses and she made a sweeping move to take the lead on the turn into the stretch. The long-striding filly continued on to score by 4 1/2 lengths.

"I know there was going to be a lot of speed in the race and that they were going to fight for the lead. So I said I've got to take my filly a little bit back. That worked perfect for her," said Rendon, who is in the midst of a highly successful first Summer Meet at Gulfstream. "She's a nice filly. The first time I breezed her I really liked this filly. She's won three races in a row now, two of them stakes."

Sweetheart Deal closed to be second under Cristian Torres, seven lengths ahead of Two Sixty, the 2-1 second choice ridden by Edgard Zayas. Lenzi's Lucky Lady ran six furlongs over a sealed sloppy track in 1:13.55, a final clocking that was built on fractions of :22.48 and :46.83 seconds for the first half-mile.

"She was awesome. I'm just glad she showed some versatility," O'Connell said. "She responds really well to Jairo. He's been a big help with a lot of these fillies that are a little bit difficult. He's done a great job and has been a great addition to my stable."

The Florida Sire Stakes series for fillies continues with the $200,000 Susan's Girl at seven furlongs Aug. 31 and the $400,000 My Dear Girl a 1 1/16 miles Sept. 28.

Video: FTBOA Florida Sire Dr. Fager S. (BT)

Video: FTBOA Florida Sire Desert Vixen S. (BT)