BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-bred geldings My Favorite Bird and Tiz Trouble look to make the winner’s circle on Friday’s opening day at Saratoga Race Course in the $150,000 Saranac Stakes at a mile-and-sixteenth on the turf. For 3-year-olds which have not won a stakes, the Saranac has attracted an overflow field of 13 including one entered under main track conditions.
A victory in the Saranac by either Florida-bred would earn their respective breeders a $4,000 Export Incentive paid by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Rachel L. Gerson’s My Favorite Bird has been close in three previous tries against stakes company at three different tracks this year.
Trainer J. Kent Sweezey claimed My Favorite Bird for $25,000 out of a four-and-three-quarter-length maiden victory at Gulfstream Park in December and has seen the son of Noble Bird rack up $100,050 in seven starts since.
He took a $35,000 optional claiming, starter allowance going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the grass at Gulfstream in his second start from the new barn then was second against Florida-bred allowance horses at a mile on the turf at Gulfstream on March 6.
Sweezey then took him to Tampa Bay Downs to finish third in his stakes debut versus Florida-breds in the $110,000 Lambholm South Sophomore Turf Stakes at a mile-and-a-sixteenth. He returned to Gulfstream to improve to second in the $96,000 English Channel won by Florida-bred Bolero Bay before traveling to Maryland where he was second to Turf Star in the $100,000 James W. Murphy at Laurel Park on May 16. Both the English Channel and James W. Murphy were run at a mile on the turf.
Last out, My Favorite Bird uncharacteristically finished off the board in the $274,000 Audubon going nine furlongs on the Churchill Downs grass on May 30.
My Favorite Bird has a career record of two wins, four seconds and two thirds in 12 starts with earnings of $132,650. Out of the Brethren mare Polly, he was bred in Florida by Arindel of Ocala.
Tyler Gaffalione will ride My Favorite Bird from post six and they are 20-1 on the morning line.
Also listed at 20-1 is Tiz Trouble, who makes his second career start Friday.
Trained by Lisa Lewis for Maurleen Miller, Tiz Trouble won a $65,000 maiden special weight by six-and-a-quarter lengths going a mile-and-70 yards on the Gulfstream Park synthetic on April 9, earning $39,000.
Tiz Trouble is by Tiz the Law out of Warmhearted Windy, by Put It Back and was bred in Florida by Maurice Miller of Williston, Florida.
Junior Alvarado rides Tiz Trouble from post five.
The 5-2 morning line favorite is Arizona Territory, a winner of his last two of three career starts, all going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on grass, for trainer Chad Brown and Peter M. Brant.
Arizona Territory won $32,000 maiden special weight by three-and-a-quarter lengths at Tampa Bay Downs on March 27 and a first condition, $100,000 optional claiming during the Belmont at Big A meet on May 9.
An earner of $67,280, Arizona Territory will be ridden by Flavien Prat from post 11.
Rounding out the field are Siyouincanada (Fr) with Jose Ortiz in the saddle, Heeere’s Johnny will have Dylan Davis up, Go Grey and jockey Paco Lopez, Teddy’s Rocket with Manuel Franco in the irons, John Velazquez takes the reins on Glavine, Print will carry Ricardo Santana Jr., Blinging It Back has Edgard Zayas named to ride, Zeppelin will be ridden by Jose Lezcano and Javier Castellano takes the call on A Little At First. Gulfy is entered under main track only conditions.
My Favorite Bird and Tiz Trouble try to become the first Florida-bred winners of the Saranac since Expensive Decision won the race at Belmont Park in May of 1989.
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