BY GULFSTREAM PARK PRESS OFFICE (Edited)

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL—Trainer Michael Yates has compiled an impressive record of on-going success in the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Florida Sire Stakes, most notably saddling undefeated Rated by Merit for a 2024 colts and geldings division sweep in the three-leg series for 2-year-olds sired by accredited Florida stallions.

“This is our home base. We get a handful of 2-year-olds every year,” Yates said. “It’s one of our major goals every year.”

LNJ Foxwoods and Church Street Stable’s Finding Strength is a strong prospect to enhance Yates’ Florida Sire Stakes record Saturday at Gulfstream Park, where she is scheduled to take on 11 rivals in the $200,000 Susan’s Girl, the seven-furlong second leg of the series for 2-year-old fillies that will co-headline a 12-race program with the $200,000 Affirmed, the second leg of the colts and geldings division of the FSS.

The daughter of Ocala Stud’s leading Florida sire Khozan just missed adding her name to Yates’ list of FSS winners in the $100,000 Desert Vixen, the first leg of the series Sept. 6. Finding Strength dueled with Lennilu for six furlongs before falling a nose short of upsetting the heavy favorite.

“I thought the effort was huge. She obviously dug in and was coming back,” Yates said. “She just lost the bob, plain and simple.”

 

Finding Strength debuted with a late-rallying third-place finish in a five-furlong maiden special weight for Florida-bred fillies before graduating by four-and-a-quarter lengths against state-bred maiden special weight fillies at five-and-a-half-furlongs.

Her precocity hasn’t exactly come as a surprise to Yates.

“You never know until you lead them over there, but she trained well enough to make you think she could have some quality,” he said.

Regular jockey Jesus Rios has the return call for the Susan’s Girl. Yates has been a longtime supporter of the veteran jockey, who also rode Rated by Merit during his FSS sweep.

“When I first stabled at Calder, I had probably eight or 10 horses. Jesus Rios and Juan Leyva were two riders who were always there to give me a hand and work horses and help me,” Yates said. “We’ve kind of learned to work together. Jesus understands what I want him to do in the mornings. I think he’s a huge part of our success.”

Finding Strength is out of Strength in Unity, by To Honor and Serve and was bred in Florida by Elizabeth LaPierre and Church Street Stable. She has drawn post three.

In addition to Rated By Merit, Yates has trained Florida Sire Stakes winners Cajun Firecracker (2018 Dr. Fager), Go Jo Jo Go (2020 Desert Vixen), Cajun’s Magic (2021 Dr. Fager) and Fourth and Central (2025 Dr. Fager). All four were sired by Cajun Breeze, a multiple stakes-winning Florida-bred who was trained and retired to stud at Stonehedge Farm South by Yates.

Finding Strength won’t get a Saturday rematch with Lennilu, who came back to win the $75,000 Hollywood Beach on turf Sept. 27 in preparation for a planned start in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) Oct. 31 at Del Mar. She will, however, face a rather imposing foe in Mythical.

Jorge Delgado-trained Mythical won her debut by eight-and-a-half lengths on April 17 at Gulfstream before traveling to Saratoga Race Course to defeat males by three-and-a-half lengths in the $145,000 Tremont (Listed) on June 5. In her next start on Aug. 3, she captured the Grade 3 Adirondack by three-and-a-quarter lengths at Saratoga.

The Arindel homebred by St Patrick’s Day will be making her first start since losing for the first time in her career in the seven-furlong Spinaway (G1) on Aug. 30 at Saratoga. That day, she faded to fifth after becoming involved in an early duel.

Emisael Jaramillo, who has been aboard Mythical for all four of her starts, has the return call. They will break from post 12.

 

MyRacehorse Thoroughbred Acquisition Group LLC and Miller Racing LLC’s Love Like Lucy, who finished two-and-three-quarters lengths behind Finding Strength while checking in third in the Desert Vixen, returns with blinkers-on for the Susan’s Girl. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained daughter of Ocala Stud stallion Win Win Win had graduated on debut in her previous start Aug. 8.

“In her two career starts so far she, I would say, ran in spots in her races,” said Joe Moran, MyRacehorse’s Head of Bloodstock and Racing, explaining the decision to add blinkers to the Love Like Lucy’s equipment.

“I think this is a filly that’s really kind of growing into herself,” he added.

Edgard Zayas has the return call on Love Like Lucy, who was purchased out of the Navas Equine consignment by MyRacehorse and Joseph at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale April for $300,000. Love Like Lucy is out of Just Like Lucy, by Majestic Perfection and was bred in Florida by the late Brereton C. Jones.

Sister Hustle, who graduated on debut by 12 ½ lengths at Presque Isle Downs for owner/trainer Randall Russell Sept. 15, was transferred to trainer Joe Orseno at Gulfstream to prepare for the Susan’s Girl.

“A client of mine had her at Presque Isle and they decided that she ran so well that they wanted to run her in the Florida Sires Stakes. They sent her to me after her last race and she’s going great,” Orseno said. “I kind of can’t wait to run her.”

Gaddiel Martinez, who was aboard for the eye-catching debut, has the return call on the daughter of Uncle Chuck. She is out of Dr Megann, by Lion Heart and was bred in Florida by Dr. Ross Russell.

Orseno is also scheduled to saddle Robert Cotran’s Win Bet Only, who finished second in a state-bred maiden last time out under returning Edwin Gonzalez.

Trainer Kenny McPeek will be represented in the Susan’s Girl by Tilted Shamrock Stables’ Blazing Bridgette, who finished an even third in a $75,000 maiden claimer in her career debut at Belmont Sept. 25.

Joe Bravo has the call on the daughter of Uncle Chuck and they will depart post nine.

The Four Horsemen Racing Stable Inc. and Lady Lindsay Racing Stables’ Tizasweetlady, a runaway winner in a maiden claimer on synthetic last time out; Arindel’s Drama, a maiden special weight winner; Shooting Star Thoroughbreds LLC’s Dare Greatly, who is coming off a pair of runner-up finishes in Colonial Downs maiden races on turf; Tim Hoese’s Stunning Sapphire, who graduated in a mile turf maiden at Ellis Park two starts back; Flying Finish Farm Inc.’s Flowko, coming off a maiden special weight score in her third start; and Briardale Stable’s Social Storm, a runner-up in her debut at Parx Sept. 23; round out the main body of the field. Green With MV Stable and trainer Patrick Biancone’s Laigina, unplaced in her recent debut, is on the also-eligible list.

Return to the October 16 issue of Wire to Wire