BY BROCK SHERIDAN
A winner in his first start off the claim for trainer Rohan Crichton and owner Lawson Racing Stable, Florida-bred Big Effect will try for a second straight trip to the winner’s circle with a victory in Saturday’s $75,000 Awesome Banner overnight handicap at Gulfstream Park. Big Effect is the 122-pound high weight against eight other 3-year-olds in the seven-furlong Awesome Banner.
Claimed for $75,000 out of a fifth-place finish in a five-furlong optional claiming on the turf at Gulfstream on July 6, Big Effect responded well in his initial start from his new barn last out. He was a length-and-a-quarter winner of a second condition, $62,500 optional claiming after leading from start to finish in the six-furlong contest.
The 3-year-old gelded son of The Big Beast has had a productive year, winning three of five races, including two other first condition optional claiming races at Gulfstream Park in March and May.
Big Effect has a career ledger of four wins in 12 starts with a second and two thirds. Purchased by Glassman/Ellman/Plesa for $160,000 out of the Ocala Stud consignment at last year’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale, Big Effect has earned $185,426.
Emisael Jaramillo has the call on Big Effect and they will break from post five. They are 3-1 on the morning line.
Big Effect will give away one pound to Holiday Pay, who has been assigned to carry 121 pounds as the 5-2 morning line favorite in the Awesome Banner.
Holiday Pay also comes into the Awesome Banner off a victorious effort after winning a first condition, $25,000 optional claiming by three-and-a-half lengths going a mile on Oct. 18.
The 3-year-old colt from the Saffie Joseph Jr. stable has never finished out of the money in eight career starts, winning three with two seconds and three thirds. He has earned $136,260 for Calypso Racing Stables 2022 LLC, who purchased him for $62,000 out of the Abbie Road Consignment at the 2022 OBS October Yearling Sale.
Holiday Pay is by Ocala Stud stallion Awesome Slew out of Dreaminofauntantil, by Lewis Michael and was bred in Florida by Amalio Ruiz Lozano.
He will be ridden from the outside post nine by Edgard Zayas.
Three other Florida-breds have entered the Awesome Banner in Secret Lover, Boomcchero and Roar Ready.
Secret Lover is a son of Khozan who exits a fourth-place finish in the FTBOA Gil Campbell Memorial won by Loco Abarrio. He is trained by Antonio Sano and has been assigned to carry 116 pounds.
Drayden Van Dyke will ride Secret Lover from post one and they are 20-1 on the morning line.
Boomcchero has won two of four career starts for trainer Ronald Coy and is 12-1 in the program. He will be ridden by Edgar Perez from post three.
Roar Ready looks to improve off an eighth-place finish last out against $20,000 optional claimers for trainer Ruben Sierra.
Luca Panici will ride Roar Ready from post seven and they are 15-1 in the program.
Rounding out the field are Mr Skylight with jockey Paco Lopez, Icelander with Cipriano Gil in the irons, Jose Morelos has the call on Apollo Code and Edwin Gonzalez rides Divieto.
