BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Rosie’s Halo and Genuine Peril look for their first victories of the year Thursday at Colonial Downs when the two Florida-breds head to the post in an upper condition, $75,000 optional claiming for fillies and mares. The $90,000 purse has attracted seven entrants, 3-year-olds and older, who will go seven furlongs.
Thursday’s test will be the first time in 16 career starts Rosie’s Halo has raced outside Gulfstream Park and the third time starting for trainer Rohan Crichton.
In her first race for Crichton, the 5-year-old daughter of Jess’s Dream was fifth against upper level, $62,500 optional claiming fillies going six furlongs on May 16. Last out, she stepped up in class a bit to finish fourth in the $75,000 My Pal Chrisy overnight handicap won by Florida-bred Beth’s Dream going a mile on June 23.
Rosie’s Halo has won three with four seconds and two thirds while earning $165,437. She is out of the Shackleford mare Shackalou and was bred in Florida by Colin Mouttet and Paul Mouttet.
She is owned by Sean Defreitas, will be ridden by Emisael Jaramillo from post five and is listed at 3-1 on the morning line.
Genuine Peril makes her first start since January when the 3-year-old filly finished fourth in the $75,000 Gasparilla won by Florida-bred Mystic Lake at Tampa Bay Downs. Her two previous starts also came against stakes company, finishing seventh in the $60,000 Juvenile Fillies Sprint won by Florida-bred Chi Chi going six-and-a-half furlongs on Nov. 11 then fourth behind winning Florida-bred Let Them Watch in the $50,000 Sandpiper going six furlongs at Tampa Bay Downs on Dec. 2.
Genuine Peril is by Enticed out of Shoyoya, by Macho Uno and was bred in Florida Carole A. Rio and Isabella Rio. Her lone career victory in six starts came against special weight maiden fillies at Colonial Downs in August of last year.
Purchased by Raramuri Equine for $10,000 as a weanling at the 2021 Keeneland November Sale, Genuine Peril has earned $44,800 for owner Valentin Jimenez.
Genuine Peril is 20-1 on the morning line and will be ridden by Chris Landeros from post six.
Cheetara (Chi) drops in class from her last start when fifth in the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie won by Red Carpet Ready going six-and-a-half furlongs at Gulfstream Park on March 9.
Trained by Brittany Russell for Repole Stable, Cheetara’s last win came in the $100,000 Skipat at Pimlico in April of last year. In two other races against stakes horses since, she was second to Alva Starr in the $100,000 Dashing Beauty at Delaware Park and fifth in the $75,000 Jean Elizabeth at Hawthorne, both in July of last year.
Cheetara is by Daddy Long Legs out of Frescura Total (Chi), by Thunder Gulch and has won eight of 28 lifetime starts with five seconds and six thirds while earning $384,626.
Rounding out the field are Be Like Water and jockey Gavin Ashton, Ben Curtis rides Rose Palace, Lady Radler will have Trevor McCarthy in the irons and Mattitude with Jorge Ruiz.
