BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Sunshine State breeders are well represented in Saturday’s $100,000 My Frenchman at Monmouth Park with two strong contenders in Florida-breds My Boy Star and Rebel With a Cause. The My Frenchman has a field of eight 3-year-olds who will go five-and-a-half furlongs on the turf and a victory by either Florida-bred would garner a $4,000 Export Incentive check for their respective breeders paid by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owner’ Association.

Owned by trainer Alejandro Olais Mendieta’s A.O.M. Racing Stables with Pedro Brito Brito, My Boy Star shoots for his third straight victory and second consecutive in a stakes.

The bay son of Bucchero broke his maiden at Tampa Bay Downs, winning by five-and-a-half lengths going six furlongs in March, then took the $100,000 FHBPA Sophomore Sprint against Florida-breds in his stakes debut at Gulfstream Park on April 25.

My Boy Star has now won half of his four career starts with two thirds against maiden special weight company to start his career, both Tampa Bay in January and February. He has earned $104,500.

He is out of My Sarasota Star, by Adios Charlie and was bred in Florida by Mendieta and Maria Elena Villegas of Tampa.

No rider has been named on My Boy Star, who is 5-1 on the morning line and has post four.

Lauren Robson trains Rebel With a Cause for Tristar Farm LLC.

Rebel With a Cause had a difficult first race at Keeneland in October in which he encountered repeated trouble, but rebounded to win his second start, taking a $50,000 optional claiming maiden race by three-and-a-half lengths going five furlongs on the turf at Gulfstream on February 13. He improved again next out to win a first condition, allowance race by three lengths sprinting on the Gulfstream synthetic course on March 5. Robson then took him to Churchill Downs for the $222,000 William Walker Stakes (Listed) at five-and-a-half furlongs on the grass where he finished fourth, just three-and-a-quarter lengths behind winner Outfielder on May 9.

Rebel With a Cause is by Leinster out of Glenwood Pines, by Mizzen Mast and was bred in Florida by Mr. and Mrs. David John Osterholt of Ocala. He has won two of four career starts with earnings of $71,012 for Tristar Farm.

A two-time alum of Ocala Breeders’ Sales, Rebel With a Cause sold for $10,000 to Gayle Woods at the 2024 Winter Mixed Sales where he was consigned by Bobby Jones Equine. He did not meet his reserve at last year’s March Sale of 2-year-olds in training.

John Velazquez is named to ride Rebel With a Cause from post two and they are 5-1 in the program.

The 2-1 morning line favorite is Cairo Surprise, who rides a four-race win streak into Saturday including a six-length victory in the $81,000 John J. Reilley Handicap going six furlongs last out at Monmouth Park on June 7. Two starts back, he won a state-bred allowance race by nine-and-a-quarter lengths going five-and-a-half furlongs at Monmouth.

Cairo Surprise is trained by Cathal Lynch for Hope H. Jones and has won four with four seconds in eight starts and lifetime revenues of $181,600.

He has Julio Hernandez named to ride from the outside post eight.

Also set to line up for the My Frenchman are Azizam (GB) and jockey Jose Gomez, Capanaparo will have Luis Rivera Jr. in the saddle, Charlie Marquez has the call on Beach Bomber, Big Destroyer and Chris Elliot and Jorge Vargas Jr. will guide Chasing Freedom.

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