BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Alex and JoAnn Lieblong’s homebred Big Paradise has been labeled the 6-5 morning line favorite for Saturday’s $65,000 Juvenile Sprint, a six-and-half-furlong contest for Florida-bred 2-year-olds at Gulfstream Park. The Juvenile Sprint also offers a $20,000 bonus for Florida Sire Stakes-eligible runners presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Trained by David Fawkes, Big Paradise will be making his third career start Saturday and second in stakes. In his last start on Oct. 19 at Gulfstream, the bay son of The Big Beast was fourth in the $200,000 Affirmed won by Florida-bred juggernaut Rated by Merit on Oct. 19, the second leg of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes.
Big Paradise broke his maiden in his first career start on Sept. 28, winning by a half-length under special weight conditions at six furlongs on Sept. 28.
Out of the Blame mare Paradise Bay, Big Paradise has earned $41,000 in his two races. He has post five and will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr.
The second choice on the morning line at 3-1 is Most Handsome, an undefeated son of Pleasant Acres Stallions’ Neolithic from the barn of Ronald Spatz.
Most Handsome will be making his first start on dirt after winning his first two starts on the synthetic course.
After breaking his maiden going five-and-a-half furlongs on Aug. 31, Most Handsome won the $95,000 Hollywood Beach in front-running fashion going five furlongs on Sept. 28.
“He trained well going into his first race,” Spatz said. “What surprised me was the second time more than the first time. I didn’t expect him to show that kind of speed off his first race when he rated kindly. He was sharp and Drayden let him do what he wanted.
“It looks like a comfortable spot for him if he handles the dirt.”
Most Handsome is out of Precious Lady, by Songandaprayer and was bred in Florida by Julie Ann Jackson. He is owned by David S. Romanik and Spatz, for whom he has earned $98,650 in two starts.
Consigned by On Track at this year’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale, Most Handsome did not meet his reserve.
Drayden Van Dyke, who was aboard for both previous races, gets the return mount on Most Handsome and they will depart post three.
Third in the Hollywood Beach was Noble N Magical, who returns to take on Most Handsome in the Juvenile Sprint.
Trained by Andy Williams for APW Racing LLC, Noble N Magical won a six-furlong maiden special weight by seven lengths over a sloppy track in his second career start on Aug. 24.
Noble N Magical has earned $58,130 in his three races after selling for a bargain $2,500 at the 2023 OBS October Yearling Sale. Idella Fernander signed the ticket on the dark bay colt after selecting him out of the Abbie Road Farm consignment.
Noble N Magical is by Noble Bird out of Magical Holiday, by Speightstown and was bred in Florida by John Oxley Living Trust.
Cipriano Gil will ride Noble N Magical from the outside post six.
Others set for the Juvenile Sprint are Aegon Targaryen with Edwin Gonzalez in the irons, Leonel Reyes rides Nothingsubtle and Indecisiveness has jockey Carlos Rojas.
