BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Reminiscent of a South East Conference football showdown, Florida-breds Chi Chi and Star of Saturn will have the home field advantage against Arkansas-bred and 7-5 program favorite Haulin Ice in Saturday’s $75,000 Game Face for 3-year-old fillies going six furlongs at Gulfstream Park Saturday.
Chi Chi and Star of Saturn, who are 2-1 and 3-1 respectively on the morning line, will also be running for a $20,000 Top 3 Bonus for Florida-breds presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Ernest C. Frohboese’s Chi Chi makes her eighth consecutive start against stakes company and first since finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Beaumont won by Diamond Pearls going seven furlongs at Keeneland on April 7.
In three black-type starts last year, Chi Chi won the $50,000 E. L. Gaylord at Remington Park in September and the $60,000 Juvenile Fillies Sprint against Florida-breds in November at Gulfstream. She finished the year running second to Let Them Watch in the $50,000 Sandpiper at Tampa Bay Downs.
She started her sophomore campaign finishing fifth in the $150,000 Cash Run then finished third in both the Grade 3 Forward Gal and $102,000 Any Limit before her last race in the Beaumont.
Chi Chi has won two of nine career starts with a second and two thirds while earning $131,483. She is by Audible out of Simply Confection, by Candy Ride (Arg) and was bred in Florida by France Weiner. She is a half-sister to 2022 FTBOA Horse of the Year Simplification, who is currently completing his first year standing stud at Pleasant Acres Stallions.
Trainer Herman Wilenskly has named Edwin Gonzalez to ride Chi Chi from post four.
Star of Saturn has won three of four career starts with one second, all at Gulfstream, and makes her stakes debut in the Game Face.
Trained by Robert Dibona for Wendy Ouriel Racing LLC, Star of Saturn most recently won a first level, $75,000 optional claiming going seven furlongs at Gulfstream on March 15. She also won a state-bred allowance on Jan. 25 in her only other start this year.
Star of Saturn is by The Big Beast out of the Grade 2-placed Florida-bred mare Marathon Lady, by Graeme Hall and was bred in Florida by Alex and JoAnn Lieblong.
Star of Saturn sold for $40,000 to her current owner at last year’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale where she was consigned by Silvestre Chaves Thoroughbreds. She has earned $134,080 in her four career starts.
Star of Saturn has post seven and jockey Hector Diaz Jr. has the assignment.
Haulin Ice has been racing at Oaklawn Park for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. where she has won three of five starts with two seconds.
She won a first condition, $100,000 optional claiming going six furlongs in her most recent start on May 3 after finishing second to Hush It Honey in the $150,000 Rainbow Miss for Arkansas-bred fillies on April 6.
Haulin Ice is by Cool Front out of She’s Smoke, by Half Ours and has earnings of $294,500 for owner C2 Racing Stable, Paul Braverman, Miller Racing LLC and Timothy Pinch.
Edgard Zayas will ride Haulin Ice from post six.
Rounding out the field are Marshmallow Queen and rider Leonel Reyes, Gallop d’Hermes and jockey Edgar Perez, Emisael Jaramillo rides Dot, and Miguel Vasquez rides Miuccia.
