BY BROCK SHERIDAN
If one is to initially try a 5-year-old gelding against stakes horses, a good time is off a two-race win streak. That is exactly what trainer Mark Casse has in mind for Florida-bred Dear Dad, a winner of his last two starts against optional claimers. Dear Dad is one of eight 3-year-olds and older entered to go a mile-and-one-half on the inner turf at Colonial Downs in the $150,000 Colonial Cup Saturday.
Never out of the top three in seven starts this year, two race back Dear Dad won a first level, $25,000 optional claiming going a mile at Gulfstream Park on June 21. He most recently took a second level, $50,000 optional claiming going a mile on a good turf in the rain at Colonial on Aug. 6.
He started the year winning a first level, $25,000 optional claiming by three lengths against fellow Florida-breds going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on synthetic on Jan 22 at Gulfstream. Although he did not win any of his next three tries, all under the same conditions at Gulfstream, he was just a half-length behind when second to Tucson going nine furlongs on the all-weather course on Feb. 22 and a nose shy of defeating Soulmate at the same distance on April 20. His lone third this year came behind winner Ciao Chuck at a mile-and-sixteenth on the grass on March 29.
Dear Dad’s record reflects a lifetime of consistency with four wins, six seconds and three thirds in 15 career starts all for owner Dr. Birriel Jr. Quintessential Racing Florida LLC has a been partner for every race except the first while Dear Dad has racked up a $227,200.
Bred in Florida by Haras Buen Borincano Inc., Dear Dad is by Ocala Stud’s leading Florida sire Khozan out of Table for Six, by Mizzen Mast.
Daniel Centeno will ride Dear Dad from post five and they are 9-2 on the morning line.
Augustin Stable’s Truly Quality is the 3-1 favorite coming out of a fourth-place finish, just a half-length behind winner Gold Phoenix in the Grade 3 Del Mar Handicap going a mile-and-three-eighths on the grass on Aug. 30.
In one other start this year, the 5-year-old gelded son of Quality Road was sixth in the 10-furlong San Marcos (G3) on the Santa Anita turf on Feb. 8. He won the mile-and-a-half Hollywood Turf Cup (G2) at Del Mar in his last race of 2024 in November.
Truly Quality has won five with four seconds and three thirds in 15 starts while earning $517,495.
Alex Conception has the mount from post four.
Others entered are Dean Martini and jockey Jaime Rodriguez, Desvio has rider Forest Boyce, Just a Photo will have Paco Lopez in the saddle, Emmanuel Esquivel takes the call on Safe Trip Home, Twirling Point has Kendrick Carmouche up and Zevon will have have Victor Carrasco up.
Return the Sept. 3 issue of Wire to Wire
