BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Amy E. Dunne and trainer Patrick Biancone’s Squire returns to the grass to begin his 3-year-old campaign in Thursday’s $175,000 Dania Beach, scheduled for one mile on the turf at Gulfstream Park. Squire is the lone Florida-bred entered among the field of 10 sophomores and thus, is the only runner eligible for the $25,000 portion of the purse from the Florida-bred Incentive Fund.
This will be the sixth start against stakes horses for Squire, who is one of two horses with Camigol to run in all three legs of the colts and geldings division of the lucrative Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Florida Sire Stakes series in 2025.
The gelded son of Leinster was second to Khozalite in the $200,000 Affirmed, the seven-furlong division of the Florida Sire Stakes on Oct. 18, before finishing sixth last out in the $300,000 In Reality leg going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on Nov. 29. He started the series finishing fifth in the $100,000 Dr. Fager at six furlongs on Sept. 6.
Squire also has two starts in added-money events on turf, finishing second to Sandal’s Song in the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile going five furlongs on May 10 and fifth in the Hollywood Beach won by stablemate Lennilu over the same distance on Sept. 27.
Squire is out of Saudi Chroma, by Lucky Pulpit and has earned $116,720 from one win and two seconds in six starts.
Squire is 12-1 on the morning line and will be ridden from post two by David Egan.
Honey Dutch will make his first start in Florida Thursday after finishing third in the $150,000 Central Park (Listed) racing a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the inner turf at Aqueduct on Nov. 7.
Trained by Whitworth Beckman for Legion Racing and Awestrike Racing, Honey Dutch has won one of six career races, a nearly seven-length score against special weight maiden graduates of an auction going a mile on the unique turf at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 4. In his next start, he finished second in a non-winners of two allowance going a mile on the grass at Churchill Downs on Sept. 28.
By Knicks Go and an earner of $112,985, Honey Dutch in the 2-1 morning line favorite and will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. from post two.
Rounding out the field are A Million Dreams with Jaime Torres riding, Grand Mahogany and jockey Jorge Ruiz, Zeppelin will have Junior Alvarado in the saddle, Easy Wind with Tyler Gaffalione up, John Velazquez will guide Alpyland, Knoty Tricks will be ridden by Jose Morelos and Edgard Zayas will have the reins on Truman’s Commander.
Return to the December 31 issue of Wire to Wire
