BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-breds Prevent and Reminder, who were second and third, respectively, last out in the $65,000 Armed Forces on the Gulfstream Park synthetic course on Nov. 4, switch to the track’s new turf Saturday in the $100,000 Pulpit. Set at seven-and-a-half furlongs, the Pulpit has attracted a field of 11 2-year-olds, including likely favorite Noted and Florida-bred General Ledger, who makes his turf debut.
Trained by Juan Alvarado for BC Racing LLC, Prevent set leisurely fractions with a clear lead for most of the mile-and-70-yard Armed Forces before being engaged by eventual winner Freedom Principle in the final furlong. Those two fought it out until just before the wire when Freedom Principle got clear for a length-and-quarter victory.
In two other attempts against stakes company, Prevent finished sixth in the $90,000 Proud man won by Florida-bred Bentornato going six furlongs on the main track in August but improved in the $90,000 Hollywood Beach going five furlongs on the all-weather surface when fourth behind winner Mattingly.
Prevent has one win in six career starts with three seconds and earnings of $83,520 after his current owner bought him for just $15,000 out of the Las Palmas consignment at the 2022 Winter Mixed Sale at Ocala Breeders’ Sales.
He is by Pleasant Acres Stallions’ Neolithic out of Bossy Gal, by Pioneerof the Nile and was bred by Katia Perez Ozuna.
Luca Panici will ride Prevent from post one.
Prior to running in the Armed Forces, the Jose D’Angelo-trained Reminder had won his first race in his third career start, taking a Sept. 15 maiden special weight going a mile-and-70-yards on synthetic at Gulfstream by three-and-three-quarter lengths.
Bred in Florida by Courtney Meagher, Reminder is by Audible out of Mom’s Deputy, by War Chant and has earned $59,444 in his four career starts for owner Tami Bobo.
Reminder is a two-time graduate of Ocala Breeders’ Sales, most recently selling to First Finds for $185,000 at the June Sale where he was consigned by de Meric Sales. Beth Bayer consigned him as a yearling at the 2022 Winter Mixed Sale when First Finds purchased him for $100,000. He also sold at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale where de Meric Sales purchased him for $200,000.
Reminder has drawn post four and Edgard Zayas will ride.
Trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. will saddle General Ledger.
The son of Summer Front out of Twice by Sunday, by Sky Mesa exits a seventh-place finish in the $85,000 Juvenile Sprint going six-and-a-half furlongs against fellow Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park on Nov. 11.
A homebred for All In Line Stables LLC, General Ledger has earned $52,680 in three starts and will be ridden by Edwin Gonzalez from post seven.
The likely favorite for the Pulpit is Noted for trainer Todd Pletcher.
Noted comes into the Pulpit off a ninth-place finish behind winner Fierceness in the Grade 1 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile presented by TAA at Santa Anita on Nov. 3.
The grey or roan son of Cairo Prince out of Sea View Millie, by Proud Citizen won the $206,000 Sapling at Monmouth Park going a mile for owner Repole Stable in August before finishing second, a nose short of Can Group in the Grade 2 Bourbon at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the Keeneland turf on Oct. 8.
Noted has earned $279,625 from two wins in five starts and Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride from post eight.
Rounding out the field in the Pulpit are Liam’s Journey, who will be ridden by John Velazquez; Double Your Money with jockey Junior Alvarado, Luis Saez has the mount on Palm Tree, Summer Storm Stric will have Edgar Perez up, Ship to Shore and jockey Hector Diaz Jr., Tocayo will be ridden by Jorge Ruiz and Leonel Reyes has the mount on Okiro.
