BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-breds Forever Souper and Happyisashappydoes, who were first and second respectively in the ESMARK Turf Classic on March 24 at Tampa Bay Downs, are set to face each other again in the $125,000 Million Preview at Colonial Downs Saturday. The Million Preview has attracted six 3-year-olds and older who will go a mile-and-one-eighth on the turf.
Both have traveled outside Florida for their recent starts with Forever Souper remaining in stakes company on the grass where the 5-year-old gelding has finished third in two starts since the Turf Classic.
He had a very difficult trip in the $99,000 Henry Clark won by Dataman going a mile at Laurel on April 30 when shuffled back coming out of the far turn and shut off in the stretch. Forever Souper had a clearer path in the $110,000 Cliff Hanger going a mile-and-a-sixteenth at Monmouth Park on May 25, but again finished behind a winning Dataman.
A Live Oak Plantation homebred, Forever Souper is by American Pharoah out of Mighty Souper, by War Front and has won six with a second and four thirds in 15 starts with earnings of $292,255.
Trainer Michael Trombetta will give a leg up to Mychel Sanchez and they will break from post three. They are listed as the 5-2 second choice in the program.
Happyisashappydoes had one poor start after the Turf Classic, finishing seventh in a second level, $32,000 optional claiming won by Laloba Feroz going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the grass at Tampa Bay Downs on April 26.
However, he has won his last two going a mile-and-70-yards over the synthetic main track at Presque Isle Downs. The 4-year-old gelding took a second condition, $40,000 optional claiming by two-and-a-half lengths on June 5 then a second condition, $50,000 optional claiming by nearly three lengths on June 17.
Happyisashappydoes has now won four with four seconds in 12 career starts with earnings of $142,200. He is by Double Diamond Farm stallion First Dude out of Nightfury, by Kitalpha and was bred in Florida by Eddy R. Martinez and and Linda Martinez.
Happyisashappydoes is trained by Teresa Connelly for Linda Martinez and will break from post five with Antonio Gallardo. He is 20-1 on the morning line.
The even-money favorite on the morning line is Integration, who makes his first start since finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic won by Program Trading (GB) at Churchill Downs on May 4.
Trained by Shug McGaughey III for Woodford Racing LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds, Pine Racing Stables, William T. Freeman, Michael Valdes and John A. Ballantyne, Integration was also third in the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile won by Master of The Seas (Ire) at Keeneland on April 12. In one other start this year, the 4-year-old colt was fifth, beaten less than two lengths by Warm Heart (Ire) in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream on Jan. 27.
Integration has post four and jockey Kendrick Carmouche.
Others entered are Highland Chief (Ire), who will be ridden by Trevor McCarthy; Nineeleventurbo with jockey Hector Berrios and Jorge Ruiz rides Siege of Boston.
