BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Champion Equine’s Esperon leads five Florida-breds in an overflow field of 12 3-year-olds and older entered for Saturday’s featured ninth race, a second condition, $32,000 optional claiming going five furlongs on the turf. Florida-breds Esperon, Bahamian Moon and Fluid Situation are among 10 in the body of the race while Florida-breds Cruzin Man and Mr Tyson make up the also-eligible list.
The $56,500 purse reserves $23,000 (40%) for Florida-bred contenders, part of Tampa Bay Downs’ enhanced Florida-bred program. Record Florida-bred allocations enabled by 2025 state legislation include $1.5 million at Tampa Bay Downs and $6 million at Gulfstream Park.
The industry awaits Gulfstream Park’s implementation plan for its allocation.
Esperon searches for his second win from eight starts this year after taking a first condition allowance race going five-and-a-half furlongs on the grass at Colonial Downs on July 19. Trained by J. David Braddy for Champion Equine LLC, Esperon exits a fourth-place finish in an upper tier, $62,500 optional claiming going five furlongs on the Gulfstream turf on Oct. 26. The quick Esperon had a clear lead through the first three points of call before losing by only a length-and-a-quarter to winner Makeit to Cheyenne.
In one start between the Colonial allowance win and his last race, Esperon was fifth in a second-level, $50,000 optional claiming going five-and-a-half furlongs on the turf at Colonial on Aug. 27.
Esperon has a career earnings of $223,755 from three wins, three seconds and six thirds. He is by Chitu out of Satan’s Mistress, by Songandaprayer and was bred in Florida by Michael Frank.
Samuel Marin will ride from post seven.
Fluid Situation makes his third start for trainer Kevin Rice after being trained by John Terranova II in first 26 starts, winning five with nine seconds.
He has a win and a second from the Rice barn, both going six furlongs on the synthetic course at Presque Isle Downs. He was a nose winner of a $25,000 claiming on Sept. 29 and second to Florida-bred Toddchero in an upper level, $40,000 optional claiming on Oct. 15.
Now owned by Bella Mia Stables, Fluid Situation has earned $348,124 in his 28-race career. The 6-year-old gelding is by Warrior’s Reward out of Volatile Vickie, by Elusive Quality and was bred in Florida by Hidden Point Farm Inc.
Fluid Situation will depart from post six with Israel O. Rodriguez aboard.
Bahamian Moon returns to trainer Dennis Ward after four starts from the Mary Lightner barn. Last out on Oct. 3 going five furlongs on the Gulfstream Park synthetic, the 8-year-old mare was fifth in an upper level, $62,500 optional claiming won by Choose Joy.
She has won three of 10 starts in 2025, including two second level, $32,000 optional claiming races at Tampa Bay, both going five furlongs. One victory came over the grass in March the other taken off the turf and run on the main track in April.
Bahamian Moon is by Double Diamond Farm stallion Bahamian Squall out of Monstrip, by Comic Strip and was bred in Florida by Good Beginnings Farm.
Ward has named Sara Hess to ride and they will depart from post three.
Rounding out the field are Dark Vintage (Ire) and jockey Ademar Santos, Psychedelic Shack will have Daniel Centeno in the irons, Chelsey Keiser has the mount on More Love, Rocket Dragon with Scott Spieth, Jesus Castanon has the call on Skyloft, Star’s Image with Antonio Gallardo in the saddle and Cesar Gonzalez will guide Jetaros.
Return to the November 20 issue of Wire to Wire
