BY BROCK SHERIDAN
After a difficult start resulted in his first career loss last out in the $79,000 Aventura, Mr Pug LLC and JPG 2 LLC’s Naughty Rascal rebounded with a strong victory while making his turf debut in the $95,000 Armed Forces at Gulfstream Park Saturday. In taking the one mile contest against nine other 2-year-olds, Naughty Rascal earned a $10,000 Florida-bred bonus presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owner’s Association. Runner-up Tank earned a $6,000 Florida-bred bonus from the FTBOA while third-place finisher Scarecrow took down $4,000 in Florida-bred bonus money for finishing third.
Tank set the pace from his inside post in the Armed Forces, taking the field through quarter-mile splits of :24.48 and :49.48 as Naughty Rascal tracked in second from a length back. Naughty Rascal and jockey Miguel Vasquez joined Tank around the far turn and those hit the top of the stretch heads apart. Tank fought off Naughty Rascal until the final sixteenth when the winner drew off to win by a length in 1:23.60 on the firm turf.
Tank finished a neck ahead of a late-running Scarecrow in third. Bridle a Butterfly, Super Sailor, Mr. Squeaky, Florida-bred I Know I Know, Formulate, God With Us and Carcone completed the order of finish.
Naughty Rascal paid $11.00 to win.
Naughty Rascal won a maiden special weight in her first career start over a sloppy five furlongs at Gulfstream Park on July 21 then won the $95,000 Proud Man going six furlongs by a neck in August. He was bumped hard at the start of the Aventura on Sept. 21 but managed to finish second, just a length-and-a-quarter shy of winner Crazy Frazy.
By Solera Farm stallion Rogueish out of the Smarty Jones mare Baby Doll, Naughty Rascal was bred in Florida by Edward Seltzer, Beverly Anderson, Helen Barbazon and Joseph Barbazon. He has now won three of four career starts with earnings of $143,130.
He is a two-time graduate of Ocala Breeders’ Sales having first old for $22,000 to Silvestre Avila out of the Boutte Sales consignment at the 2023 Winter Mixed Sale. JPG2 then got him for $39,000 out of the De Meric Sales consignment at this year’s OBS March Sale.
Naughty Rascal is a half-brother to stakes-placed Awesome Anywhere, by Awesome of Course and five other winners from six starters for Baby Doll. She was bred to Sir Winston in 2024.
