BY BROCK SHERIDAN
The Florida-bred duo of KEM Stables’ Global Legend and John Grossi’s Racing Group’s homebred Joey Muscles are the top morning line choices for the $200,000 Sapling at Monmouth Park Saturday. The track’s oddsmaker has made Global Legend the program favorite at 3-1 while Joey Muscles is the 7-2 second choice for the one-mile contest featuring seven 2-year-olds.
Trained by Mark Casse, Global Legend seeks easier competition in his third career start after finishing sixth last time in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special won by Showcase at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 10. After breaking his maiden by three lengths going four-and-a-half furlongs on a sloppy and sealed track at Gulfstream Park on June 8, Global Legend was never able to find his best stride while racing on the rail in the six-and-a-half-furlong Saratoga Special.
An $80,000 purchase by Machmer Hall at the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Winter Mixed Sale where he was consigned by Fly By, Global Legend has earned $36,000 in his three lifetime starts.
He is by Global Campaign out of Im a Dixie Diva, by Henny Hughes and was bred in Florida by Dominique Damico.
Joe Bravo will be aboard the dark bay or brown colt for the first time and they have post three.
Joey Muscles, who scratched out of today’s Grade 3 With Anticipation on the turf after being entered under main track only conditions, now turns his attention to the Sapling for trainer Jena Antonucci.
This will be his second race against stakes competition after finishing third to fellow Florida-bred Naughty Rascal in the $95,000 Proud Man at Gulfstream Park in his last race on Aug. 10. Antonucci is hoping better racing luck will be the key for Joey Muscles, who lacked room turning for home and was forced outside late in the six-furlong Proud Man.
The chestnut son of Journeyman Stud stallion Khozan won his second career start by a length-and-a-half when facing special weight maidens at Gulfstream on July 7 and will face Global Legend for the second time. He was third behind that rival in the aforementioned Gulfstream Park maiden race on June 8.
Joey Muscles is out of Smokin Red Hot, by Stormy Atlantic and has earned $41,130 in his three previous starts.
Samy Camacho will ride from post four.
Casse will also saddle D. J. Stables’ Sweet Fantasy for the Sapling.
A $30,000 purchase by his owner at the 2023 OBS Winter Mixed where he was consigned by 4M Ranch, Sweet Fantasy just won his first race in a maiden special weight contest taken off the turf at Saratoga in his fourth career start.
The Grey or roan son of Cross Traffic has earned $51,242 and will be ridden from post six by Isaac Castillo. They are 4-1 on the morning line.
Rounding out the field are Roxton and jockey Silvestre Gonzalez, Truly Legit with rider Jairo Rendon, Nik Juarez takes the call on Majority Opinion and Crazy Frazy will be ridden by Carlos Rojas.
