BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Stonehedge LLC homebred Power Driver, an impressive winner of her first race, will graduate into stakes company for her second start Saturday in the $100,000 Smart Halo at Laurel Park. The Smart Halo has attracted a field of seven 2-year-old fillies who will race over six furlongs.
Trained by Edward T. Allard, Power Driver produced a thoroughly professional effort in her debut on Oct. 3 at Delaware Park, coming from off the pace to win a $50,000 maiden claiming by three-and-a-quarter lengths at six furlongs.
The chestnut daughter of Journeyman Stud’s leading sire Khozan is the third winner of three starters for the Factum mare Driving Mrs B, a third-generation broodmare from the longtime Florida breeding program at Stonehedge. Stonehedge’s Gilbert Campbell purchased third dam Demetroula for $35,000 out of the Marty Hershe consignment at the 1985 Fasig-Tipton Florida Two Year Old In Training Sale.
In fact, Power Driver’s bottom side goes back five generations of Florida-bred broodmares to Solo Voyage, a 1970 daughter of Admiral’s Voyage bred in Florida by F. W. Hooper.
Power Driver will break from post four.
The Brittany Russell-trained Daze comes into the Smart Halo undefeated in two starts, including an eight-length thrashing of first level, $62,500 optional claiming fillies going seven furlongs at Laurel on Oct. 5. The daughter of Sky Mesa was equally stunning at first asking, winning a six-furlong maiden special weight by seven-and-a-half lengths at Laurel on Sept. 13.
Daze is owned by Dark Hollow Farm, Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Davidov, Dorsey Brown and Mrs. David Schwaber and has earned $66,240 in her two starts.
She has post two and jockey Sheldon Russell.
Caprice won her first three starts, including two stakes, before losing last out to Beautiful Blome in the $141,000 White Clay Creek at Delaware Park on Oct. 9.
Trained by Cathal Lynch for Runnymore Racing LLC, Caprice won the $50,000 Blue Hen on Aug. 14 and the $100,000 Smart Wonder on Sept. 11, both at Delaware Park.
Caprice has earned $151,250 in her four starts and will break from post six with Jaime Rodriquez in the saddle.
Others set for the Smart Halo are Not Too Late with Francisco Martinez named to ride, Great Andrei has Xavier Perez named in the program, Eliseo Perez will guide Beyond Belief and Oliviera with jockey Angel Rodriguez.
