BY BROCK SHERIDAN

A homebred for Peter J. Mirabelli of Boca Raton, Florida, Dasher was the first foal for Ocala Stud’s Colonel Liam in 2024 and became the second winner for the freshman sire Sunday with a determined head victory in a seven-and-a-half-furlong maiden special weight for Florida-bred fillies on the turf at Gulfstream Park. Ridden to victory by Miguel Vasquez, Dasher ran down 7-5 favorite Touch of Honor in deep stretch to take the $39,000 winner’s share of the $65,000 purse in the field of seven.

Dasher also earned Mirabelli the entire $25,000 Florida Sire Racing Incentive bonus paid by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association. Capped at $1 million, the FSRI program pays $20,000 to the owner and $5,000 to the breeder of eligible Florida-sired, Florida-bred 2-year-old winners of maiden special weight, allowance, allowance optional claiming and stakes run at Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs in 2026.

Dasher was last going into the clubhouse turn as Pastel got the jump on Clare’s Shines and Touch of Honor through an honest :23.40 on the good turf. Dasher began picking up horses down the backstretch but was then forced six-wide in the second turn and had only one horse beat turning for home after six furlongs in 1:11.93. Touch of Honor and Clare’s Shines emerged to fight for the lead midstretch when Dasher launched her bid on the far outside, eventually getting past Touch of Honor just before the wire to win by a head in 1:30.50. Touch of Honor was two-and-a-half lengths clear of Whole Lotta Rosie in third followed by Kissed by a Rose, Clare’s Shines, Shelby Coupe and Pastel.

Let go at 14-1, Dasher paid $31 to win.

Dasher is the first foal out of the winning Florida-bred mare More Glory, by Jess’s Dream. More Glory has a yearling Florida-bred colt by Ocala Stud’s Roadster and a weanling Florida-bred colt, Speeding Star, by Win Win Win, who also stands at Ocala Stud. Both were bred in Florida by Peter Mirabelli Trust.

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