BY BROCK SHERIDAN
A field of 10 Florida-bred 3-year-olds will face off in Sunday’s featured eighth at Gulfstream Park, a $48,000 first condition allowance to be run at seven furlongs.
Jacks or Better Farm Inc. homebred Etendre is the 2-1 morning line favorite after finishing second, a half-length behind General Ledger in his last race, a first level, $75,000 optional claiming going seven furlongs on April 28 at Gulfstream. The chestnut son of Awesome of Course took a short lead at the top of the stretch but could not hold off the winner in the final strides as jockey Joe Bravo momentarily stood up just before the finish.
Etendre broke won for the first time in his fourth start against $50,000 maiden optional claimers going six furlongs two starts back on April 4.
Entendre is out of the multiple stakes-winning Florida-bred mare Ballet Diva, by Hear No Evil, making him a half-brother to 2023 English Channel-winner Swan Lake.
He has one other second-place finish in his five starts and has banked $56,010.
Entrendre is trained by Carlos David and will break from post six with Edwin Gonzalez aboard.
Trainer Michael Yates will bring over Celtic Pride, a dark bay or brown son Journeyman Stud’s 2023 leading freshman sire St Patrick’s Day out of Lovely Lexi, by With Distinction.
A Stonehedge LLC homebred, Celtic Pride just won his first race in his third career start on March 1 in a $50,000 maiden optional claiming going five-and-a-half furlongs.
Sonny Leon will ride Celtic Pride, the 3-1 second choice, from post seven.
Raging Fury makes his first start for trainer Matthew Ciamei after being claimed out of a four-length victory against non-winners of two races on April 13.
Raging Fury is a gelded son of Ami’s Flatter who was a $70,000 purchase by Don Mesh out of the Off the Hook consignment at last year’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale.
A winner at first asking against maiden special weight company in August for Mesh, Raging Fury was the fifth in the $100,000 Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Florida Sire Stakes Dr. Fager won by Bentornato in his second start. He then had one fourth and two fifths in three starts against optional claimers before his last race.
Raging Fury is out of Bridlewise, by Street Sense and was bred in Florida by Diana Flores and Jorge Diaz. He has earned $64,280 in his six career starts.
Leonel Reyes will ride Raging Fury from post four and they are 6-1 in the program.
Rounding out the entries are Roar Ready, who will be ridden by Jose Morelos; Far From a Star with jockey Joseph Trejos, Miguel Vasquez has the mount on Saybrook, Jigsaw will have Hector Diaz Jr. aboard, King Faliero will have rider Jose Ferrer, Emisael Jaramillo has the mount on Dr Bayter and Edgard Zayas will guide Zio Lorenzo.
