BY BROCK SHERIDAN
A quartet of Florida-breds are among a dozen 2-year-old fillies entered for Saturday’s $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies at Gulfstream Park, which offers a travel stipend and an invitation to one of six juvenile stakes at Royal Ascot in Great Britain later this summer. The four Florida-bred fillies will be running for an additional $20,000 Top 3 bonus presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
The Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies will co-headline Saturday’s Gulfstream Card with the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile for 2-year-olds. The Royal Palm Juvenile also offers the winner a travel stipend and an invitation to a Royal Ascot juvenile stakes and the $20,000 FTBOA Top 3 bonus for Florida-breds.
Both races are scheduled for five furlongs on the turf.
Florida-bred first-time starter Good Long Cry is one of two for trainer George Weaver in the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies.
Last year, Weaver won both the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies with Crimson Advocate and the Royal Palm Juvenile with No Nay Mets (Ire).
Crimson Advocate would later win the Group 2 Queen Mary at Royal Ascot but No Nay Mets would finish out of the money in the Group 2 Norfolk at Royal Ascot.
“I’ve been to Royal Ascot a couple times now and it’s a special place for the races. You could feel the energy there,” Weaver said. “Everyone loves the racing there. It’s a fantastic place win, lose or draw, and the fact that we won just put us all over the top. It’s a difficult accomplishment to win at Royal Ascot, especially shipping over there from America.”
Good Long Cry is by Long On Value out of High Cry, by Street Cry (Ire) indicating she may relish sprinting on the turf.
Among the graded turf stakes victories for millionaire Long On Value were the Grade 1 Highlander at six furlongs at Woodbine and the Grade 3 Canadian Turf going a mile at Gulfstream Park.
High Cry won 10 of 31 starts on the grass while earning $202,858.
Good Long Cry was bred in Florida by Sabana Farm and Edwin Gonzalez will ride from post 10.
Weaver also saddles Bunratty Manor (Ire) for owners Dewsweepers III. Bunratty Manor will be ridden by Hector Diaz Jr. from post three.
Two Florida-breds make their second start Saturday in Xaverious Racing Corp’s China Blue and Kip the Distance for owner, breeder and trainer Angel Rodriguez.
They both exit a four-and-a-half-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream on May 2 with Kip the Distance finishing second and China Blue fifth.
Kip the Distance is by Pleasant Acres Stallions’ Neolithic out of Haunting Melody, by Songandaprayer and departs from post two with jockey Maikol Hernandez.
China Blue is by Briardale Farm stallion Social Inclusion out of Imperial Lady, by Intidab and was bred by Joseph Imbesi.
Trainer Javier Gonzalez has given the riding chores on China Blue to Jose Morelos.
Trainer J. David Braddy has Florida-bred You Need Me ready to make her first start Saturday for owner Champion Equine LLC.
You Need Me is by Journeyman Stud stallion St Patrick’s Day and is the first starter for the winning Uncaptured mare Mochaccino. Champion Equine purchased You Need Me at the OBS March Sale for $50,000 out of the McKathan Brothers Sales consignment. Mitchell Bloodstock consigned her at last year’s OBS October Yearling Sale but she did not meet her reserve.
You Need Me will be ridden by Leonel Reyes from post four.
Others entered include Bullet with Emisael Jaramillo named to ride, Ramsey Pond and jockey Samy Camacho, Edgard Zayas will be aboard The Queens M G, Bois Blanc and rider Sonny Leon, Walter Rodriguez has the assignment on Perfect Shances, My Emmy with jockey Miquel Vasquez and Keith Amsussen will guide Unchained Elaine.