BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Trainer Justin Nixon has Florida-bred Admiral Hopper entered for two stakes at Pimlico Race Course, both for fillies and mares, 3-years-old and older, with her best chances likely coming in Friday’s $100,000 The Very One set for five furlongs on the turf. Admiral Hopper is 12-1 on the morning line for the The Very One while she is tabbed at 20-1 in the program for Saturday’s Skipat at six furlongs on the main track.
Owned by Stone Base LLC, the 7-year-old Admiral Hopper finished last year on a high note, winning a $35,000 optional claiming starter allowance going five-and-a-half furlongs on the synthetic course at Gulfstream Park on Oct. 18.
Nixon has tried her against stakes fillies and mares in two starts this year, the last of which resulted in her finishing third behind Disco Ebo in the $99,000 Primonetta over a muddy and sealed six furlongs at Laurel on April 12. She was fifth in the $125,000 Lightning City won by Florida-bred Great Venezuela sprinting five furlongs on the Tampa Bay Downs turf on Feb. 22.
Admiral Hopper has reliable record of seven wins, two seconds and a third in just 15 career starts while earning $208,625. She was a $15,000 purchase by Krista Seltzer as agent at the 2024 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Seltzer bred Admiral Hopper with her father Edward Seltzer.
Admiral Hopper is by the late Field Commission out of Flower Class, by Stormy Atlantic.
Weston Hamilton will ride Admiral Hopper from post 11 in the field of 14 with two others entered under main track only conditions.
One with the main track only stipulation is Florida-bred Pleasant Embrace, who rides a four-race win streak and is the 7-5 in the program.
Claimed for $40,000 by trained by Kelly Breen for James A. Riccio and Gerard L. Artz out of a third-place effort on the Monmouth Park turf in June, Pleasant Embrace began her win streak at Monmouth Park on Sept. 7 two starts later, winning a $50,000 claiming race for fillies and mares going six furlongs. She then took a $30,000 starter allowance going five-and-a-half furlongs at Parx Racing on Oct. 1 before excelling to win by seven-and-a-half lengths in a first level, $20,000 optional claiming for Florida-bred fillies and mares going six furlongs at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 7. The 4-year-old filly exits a nearly six-length victory against open first level, $25,000 optional claiming fillies and mares going six furlongs at Gulfstream on March 15.
Pleasant Embrace has won six with two seconds and two thirds in 11 lifetime races with earnings of $176,830. She is by Bucchero out of Feisty Embrace, by Brethren and was bred in Florida by Dr. Matt and Lona Vuskovich of Gainesville, Fla., in the name of their Matalona Thoroughbreds LLC.
Kendrick Carmouche will ride Pleasant Embrace from post three should she scratch into the race.
Also entered for The Very One are Anaita with Wesley Ho taking the riding chores, Bosserati has Sheldon Russell taking the call, Martina Rojas will be aboard Shoshanah, Arnaldo Bocachica will be up on Mendys Honey, Gift of Gab and jockey Jevian Toledo, Pinotslilgirl does not have a rider named at press time, Moonlit Kiss will be guided by Denis Vicente Araujo, Loon Cry with Flavien Prat in the saddle, Mychel Sanchez has the assignment on Simply Stated, Maggie’s Girl with Larry Reynolds in the irons and Accomplished Girl with jockey Paco Lopez. Mudslide is also entered under main track only conditions.
Return to the May 15 issue of Wire to Wire
