Among Four Florida-breds Set for Turf Sprint
BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Arindel’s Monster is the 4-5 program favorite and is one of four Florida-breds among seven 3-year-olds set for Sunday’s $100,000 Roar Stakes at five furlongs on the Gulfstream Park turf.
The Jose D’Angelo-trained son of Leinster looks to get back on track in his third start this year, after two fifth-place finishes against stakes horses, both times after leading early.
Most recently, he was caught in the stretch by eventual winner Reb Five in the $287,000 Palisades (Listed) going five-and-a-half furlongs on the Keeneland turf on April 19. He started the year on March 21 in the $100,000 Texas Glitter on the Gulfstream synthetic but could not hold off winner Shipmate, who he faces again Sunday.
Last year in his third start, the bay son of Leinster dominated a five-furlong a maiden special weight on the Gulfstream Park turf, winning by nine lengths. He was then second to Bobrovsky in the $139,000 Skidmore at Saratoga Race Course in August, third behind Florida-bred Lennilu in the $75,000 Hollywood Beach on the Gulfstream turf in September before finishing the year with a nearly five-length score in an upper tier, $75,000 optional claiming sprinting the Gulfstream all-weather course on November 8.
Monster has earned $138,451 from his two wins with a second and a third from eight starts. He is out of Dienda, by Kantharos and was bred in Florida by Dr. Ross Russell and Deeann Smith Cavanaugh of Citra.
Arindel purchased Monster as a yearling for $25,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Winter Mixed Sale in January of 2024 where he was consigned by Bobby Jones Equine.
Monster will be ridden from post six by Samy Camacho.
Arindel will also be represented by homebred Hawk, who trainer by Carlos David has on the grass for the first time in eight lifetime starts.
Hawk has improved with each out in three starts this year, winning a first level allowance last out going a one-turn mile at Gulfstream on April 17. A winner of a $50,000 optional claiming maiden race in his last of five starts in 2025, he began this year finishing third in a first level allowance going seven furlongs at Gulfstream on January 29. He was then second in a first level, $75,000 optional claiming at nine furlongs at Gulfstream on March 1.
An earner of $121,170, Hawk is by Ocala Stud’s Adios Charlie out of the Brethren mare Capriati.
He is 6-1 on the morning line and will be ridden from post four by Diego Herrera.
Owned and trained by Daniel Hurtak, Florida-bred Zevi’s Zone tries to improve on his last out when second to Coffee At K J’s in a first condition, allowance race for Florida-breds going five furlongs on the turf on May 1. Fourth under the same conditions going five-and-a-half furlongs on the all-weather course on April 2, Zevi’s Zone started the year going five furlongs on the Gulfstream grass on January 9, finishing a good fourth, just three-and-a-half lengths shy of winner I C Light.
Zevi’s Zone has won one of 10 career starts with two seconds and earnings of $56,150. He is by Uncle Chuck out of Hot Zone, by War Front and was bred in Florida by Frank Bertolino.
Marcos Meneses has the call on Zevi’s Zone from in the inside post and they are 10-1 in the program.
Florida-bred Best Minet Yet will be saddled by Gerald Bennett, who claimed the son of Cajun Breeze for $16,000 out of a six-length victory against maidens going six-and-a-half furlongs at Tampa Bay Downs in February. He was next third behind winner Maykomotion in the $98,000 OBS Sophomore for Florida-breds at Tampa in March. In one start since, he was seventh behind winner and Roar rival Unwritten Rule, who was disqualified and placed second, in a first level, $75,000 optional claiming going six furlongs at Tampa on April 11.
Bred in Florida by Stonehedge LLC, Best Minet Yet is now owned by Mr Pug and JPG 2. He has drawn the outside post seven and will be ridden by Sammy Camacho Jr. Best Minet Yet is 15-1 on the morning line.
Rounding out the field are Unwritten Rule with Edwin Gonzalez in the saddle, Shipmate and jockey Miguel Vasquez and Micah Husbands rides General Bradley.
Return to the May 16 issue of Wire to Wire
