BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Hot Rod Honey went three-wide in the turn then wore down longshot Privateinformation with a sixteenth of a mile left to win a $65,000 maiden special weight for Florida-bred 2-year-old fillies at Gulfstream Park Friday. Making her first career start, Hot Rod Honey was the third winner in six starters for Ocala Stud’s freshman sire Roadster and the fifth Florida-bred in six races for juveniles at Gulfstream this year to take down a $25,000 Florida Sire Racing Incentive bonus.

Capped at $1 million, the FSRI program pays $25,000 for eligible 2-year-old Florida-bred winners of maiden special weight, allowance, allowance optional claiming and stakes races at Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs in 2026. The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association pays $20,000 to the owner and $5,000 to breeder of the eligible winners.

Laura L. stuck a head in front of 47-1 longshot Privateinformation past the quarter pole but went wide out of the turn, pushing out Hot Rod Honey and giving Privateinformation the inside track to resume the lead. Hot Rod Honey was quick to catch a tenancious Privateinformation then kicked clear late to win by a length-and-a-quarter in :59.34 on the fast track. Privateinformation finished second, two-and-a-quarter lengths in front of Laura L. in third. Just a Chance Yadi, Magic Coin, Double Magic and Arkstorm completed the order of finish.

Trained by Carlos David for Troy Johnson, Wendell Yates and Robert Fritts, Hot Rod Honey paid $4.80 to win.

 

Johnson purchased Hot Rod Honey for $27,000 at last year’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale. She earned $39,000 in purse money plus the FSRI bonus.

Hot Rod Honey is the first foal out of the unraced Unified mare Go Together and was bred by the Estate of Brereton C. Jones. Go Together is a half-sister to stakes-winner Oh So Regal, who set a track record for nine furlongs in 1:47.21 in the 2018 Sunland Park Handicap. Go Together has a Florida-bred yearling filly and weanling colt, both by Roadster.

Return to the June 5 issue of Wire to Wire