BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Averill Racing and Two Eight Racing LLC’s R Harper Rose is the 8-5 morning line favorite as she looks to rebound in the $75,000 Azalea at Gulfstream Park Saturday. The Florida-bred daughter of Khozan will make her first start since finishing 11th in the Grade 2 Eight Belles won by My Mane Squeeze at Churchill Downs when she goes to the post with six other 3-year-old fillies in the seven furlong contest.

R Harper Rose, Stiletto Heels and Fields of Green will also be running for an additional $20,000 bonus for registered Florida-breds presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.

The Eight Belles was the only race in which R Harper Rose has finished out of the top two in seven career starts. Among her four lifetime wins are two stakes including a two-length victory in the Grade 3 Forward Gal going seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 3. She also won last year’s $200,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Susan’s Girl by four lengths going seven furlongs in October.

In one other start this year, R Harper Rose was second to Launch in the $102,000 Any Limit going six furlongs at Gulfstream on March 17.

R Harper Rose is a two-time graduate of Ocala Breeders’ Sales. She first sold for $16,000 to Pro Racing Stable out of Richard Kent’s Kaizen Sales consignment at the 2022 October Yearling Sale. Averill Racing purchased her for $60,000 the next year at the OBS March Sale where she was consigned by GOP Racing Stable. She has provided a good return with career earnings of $375,025.

She is out of True Bliss, by Yes It’s True and was bred in Florida by the late Sally J. Andersen.

Edgard Zayas, who has ridden her in every race save the Eight Belles, will ride from post three.

Miuccia enters with two wins in four career starts, all this year.

She most recently won the $75,000 Game Face going six furlongs at Gulfstream on June 1, defeating Azalia rivals Haulin Ice and Marshmallow Queen in second and third respectively.

The bay daughter of Mitole broke her maiden in her second career start going six furlongs against special weight fillies at Gulfstream on March 17 before finishing fifth in a first condition, $75,000 optional claiming won by Florida-bred Belle’s Blue Belle on April 14.

Miuccia is trained by Gustavo Delgado for JR Ranch and will be ridden by Edgar Perez.

Stiletto Heels and Fields of Green are both homebreds for Jacks or Better Farm Inc. and trained by Carlos David.

Stiletto Heels makes just her third career start. She impressed in her debut last year in May, winning a four-and-a-half-furlong maiden special weight for fillies by six-and-a-half lengths.

In one start this year, she was eighth after being bumped at the start of a first condition, $75,000 optional claiming won by Quimichis sprinting five furlongs on the Gulfstream Park turf on June 9.

Stiletto Heels is by Awesome of Course out of Garter Belt, by Anasheed and has earned $43,440 in her two races.

She is 15-1 on the morning line and will be ridden from post four by Jose Ferrer.

Fields of Green makes her first start of the year. Last year, she won her second career start against $25,000 maiden claiming fillies going six furlongs on a sloppy track in August then raced in all three legs of the filly division of the Florida Sire Stakes. Her best finish in the Florida Sire Stakes came when third in the Susan’s Girl.

Fields of Green is 20-1 on the morning line and will carry jockey Edwin Gonzalez from post seven.

Rounding out the field are Candy Gray with jockey Drayden Van Dyke, Haulin Ice and rider Emisael Jaramillo and Leonel Reyes will be aboard Marshmallow Queen.

There have been 14 Florida-bred winners of the Azalea and four since the race was moved to Gulfstream Park from the now shuttered Calder Race Course in 2015. Florida-bred Charlie’s Wish won last year’s Azalea joining Shea D Summer (2021), Who’s the Lady (2017), Dogwood Trail (2015), Wildcat Lily (2013), Another Romance (2012), Devilish Lady (2011), Pica Slew (2010), Victorina (2006), Swept Away (2000), Cassidy (1998), Little Sister (1997), J J’s Dream (1996) and Kimscountrydiamond (1993).

Return to the July 12 issue of Wire to Wire