BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Undefeated Florida-bred Rated by Merit has been installed as the 3-5 morning line favorite for Saturday’s $200,000 Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Florida Sire Stakes Affirmed, a seven-furlong test for 2-year-olds by accredited Florida stallions. The Affirmed is the second leg of the male division of the $1.2 million Florida Sire Stakes and is the co-feature on Saturday’s program with the $200,000 Susan’s Girl, the second leg of the filly division also run at seven furlongs.

In just two starts, Rated by Merit has racked up notable credentials, including with his six-and-a-quarter-lengths victory in the $100,000 Florida Sire Stakes Dr. Fager at Gulfstream on Sept. 7. He finished six furlongs in a stakes-record 1:09.45 to produce a 93 Beyer Speed Figure that ranks in the top five among 2-year-olds this year.

The 92 Beyer number achieved during his nearly 10-length victory in his debut on July 13 still ranks at the seventh best Beyer of the year among juveniles. That day he went six furlongs in 1:10.50.

Owned and bred by Vincent Viola’s St Elias Stable, Rated by Merit is trained by Michael “Bo” Yates, who said he is eager to watch his next race.

“Due to the fact that he’s training well and he’s doing everything right, I don’t see anything at this point that we needed to do differently,” Yates said. “We’re just excited to get him over there and watch him perform.”

Rated by Merit is by Battalion Runner out of Banner Waving, by Speightstown and has earned $100,000 in his two starts.

“He’s a very well-balanced horse. Conformation-wise, he’s very correct. He’s very athletic,” Yates said. “Mentally, he’s very uncomplicated. He’s easy to handle. He minds his manners. You don’t know he’s in the barn.”

Jesus Rios will ride Rated by Merit from post two.

Neoequos and Classic of Course, the second and third-place finishers respectively in the Dr. Fager, are back to face Rated by Merit again.

Neoequos lost his rider shortly after the start of his first race in July but came back to win a maiden special weight by two-and-a-half lengths on Aug. 10 going five furlongs.

Neoequos led through the first quarter mile in a very rapid :21.73 in the Dr. Fager, then came under pressure from both Rated by Merit and Classic of Course coming out of the turn. Rated by Merit drew off in the stretch but Neoequos ran on strong to finish second, nearly two lengths clear of Classic of Course.

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said he is hoping Neoequos can pull the upset. 

“He ran well last time and took a lot of pressure. The winner, Rated by Merit, is a superior horse right now. We’re going to have to hope that he regresses a little bit,” Joseph said. “It’s a tall task. We’re running for second but hoping to win.”

Neoequos is by Neolithic, who stands at Pleasant Acres Stallions, and is out of Bold Birdie, by Birdstone. Bred in Florida by Helen and Jospeh Barbazon, Neoequos is owned by Ian Parsard, Shining Stables LLC and Stephania Farms LLC. 

With $65,400 in earnings in his first three starts, he has proven to be a good return on the $22,000 purchase price paid by Joseph at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales October Yearling Sale last year where he was consigned by Abbie Road Farm.

Joseph has given the riding assignment to Drayden Van Dyke and they will break from post three.

Classic of Course is the most experienced entrant with five career starts for trainer Patrick Biancone, who owns the colt with Amy E. Dunne.

After breaking his maiden by six-and-a-half lengths at Gulfstream in May, Classic of Course traveled to Saratoga Race Course in June to finish fourth in the $150,000 Tremont won by Studlydoright. He was then second to Florida-bred Naughty Rascal in the $95,000 Proud Man going six furlong at Gulfstream on Aug. 10.

Since the Dr. Fager, Classic of Course finished fourth behind winner Crazy Frazy in the $79,000 Aventura going a mile at Gulfstream on Sept. 21.

Classic of Course is by Awesome of Course out of Alma Mater, by Honor Code and was bred in Florida by Amy E. Dunne and Cirana G. Dunne. With one win, a second and a third, he has earned $89,188.

Joe Bravo picks up the mount and they will break from post four.

Others set for the Affirmed are Zizka with jockey Leonel Reyes, Lou with Paco Lopez named to ride and Miguel Vasquez rides Big Paradise.

Return to the October 17 issue of Wire to Wire