Roadster Daughter Earns Second $25,000 FSRI Bonus

BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Florida-bred Hot Rod Honey ran down fellow Florida-bred Colombina in mid-stretch to remain undefeated in two starts with a handy four-and-a-quarter-length victory in the $96,500 Sharp Susan Stakes at Gulfstream Park Friday. Hot Rod Honey was the best of six 2-year-old fillies who went five-and-a-half furlongs on the main track and was the second winner on the afternoon at Gulfstream for Ocala Stud’s freshman sire Roadster. His American Roadster debuted with a victory in Race 2, a five-furlong maiden special weight.

Hot Rod Honey also picked up her second $25,000 Florida Sire Racing Incentive bonus from the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association with $20,000 going to owners Troy Johnson, Wendell Yates and Robert Fritts and $5,000 to the Estate of Brereton C. Jones as the breeder. She has now earned $50,000 in FSRI money after getting a $25,000 FSRI bonus when breaking her maiden at Gulfstream Park on June 5.

Capped at $1 million, the FSRI program pays the $25,000 bonus to each eligible 2-year-old Florida-sired, Florida-bred winner of a maiden special weight, allowance, allowance optional claiming and stakes run at Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs in 2026.

Colombina was three in front around the turn as Hot Rod Honey and jockey Leonel Reyes advanced on the rail from third, passing Florida-bred Boots with five-sixteenths to run. Colombina was still well clear into the stretch when Hot Rod Honey shifted to the inside to close the gap. Hot Rod Honey took over inside the final furlong to finish in 1:06.24 on the fast track. Colombina was second, two lengths ahead of Elegante Miz in third. Boots, Melody Queen and Lamdara completed the order of finish.

Hot Rod Honey paid $6 to win.

Trained by Carlos David, Hot Rod Honey has now earned $96,050 in her two starts, not counting her FSRI bonus money. The first foal out of Go Together, by Unified, she was a $27,000 purchase by Weston Thoroughbreds as agent for Troy Johnson at the 2024 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale where she was consigned by Airdrie Stud. Go Together is a half-sister to stakes-winner Oh So Regal and has an unnamed yearling filly and an unnamed weanling colt, both by Roadster.

Notes: This is the fourth consecutive year and fifth time overall that a Florida-bred has won the Sharp Susan. Previous Florida-bred winners are Willow Case last year, Win N Your In in 2024, Let Them Watch in 2023 and Onyx in 2019. Troy Johnson was also a part owner of Win N Your In, who was trained by Carlos David as well. Leonel Reyes also rode Willow Case.

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