BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-breds Redland Rebels and Wayne’s Law, who both tried the best of their class in Road to Kentucky Derby races earlier this year, are among five Florida-breds going postward for the $100,000 English Channel at Gulfstream Park Saturday. The Florida-breds are among nine total sophomores who will race a mile on the turf.
Before finishing fourth in the Grade 3 ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby won by The Puma on March 7 and sixth in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby taken by current Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) favorite Renegade on March 28, Redland Rebels had started twice on grass. He won a one-mile maiden special weight at Gulfstream on August 3 in his second start as a 2-year-old. Six months later, he returned to finish second, just a neck behind winner Thousandsticks in the $155,000 Kitten’s Joy (Listed) going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the Gulfstream turf on January 31.
Trained by Patrick Biancone, Redland Rebels has earned $142,000 for owners Calypso Racing Stables 2022. He is by Uncle Chuck out of Kombat Cat, by D’wildcat and was bred in Florida by Melodee and Bryan Hicks in the name of their Hickstead Farm in Ocala, Florida.
Julien Leparoux will ride Redland Rebels from post one and they are the 8-5 morning line favorites.
Wayne’s Law makes his turf debut after finishing second to Renegade in the $210,000 Sam F. Davis (Listed) at Tampa Bay Downs on February 7 and fifth in the Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby won by Commandment on March 28.
As a 2-year-old, he too won his second start at Gulfstream, a six-and-a-half-furlong maiden special weight for Florida-breds on August 30. He then took the $72,000 Aventura going a mile on September 25 at Gulfstream. In his last race as a 2-year-old, he was third in the $100,000 Jean Lafitte at Delta Downs.
Wayne’s Law has won two of six career starts with a second and two thirds while earning $165,230 for owner Baalbek Corp. Trained by Amador Sanchez, Wayne’s Law is by Tiz the Law out of Mollie Merisa, by Harlan’s Holiday and was bred in Florida by Margaret McFarland.
Marcos Meneses has the call on Wayne’s Law and they will break from post two. They are 5-2 in the program.
Florida-bred My Favorite Bird exits a third-place finish in the $110,000 Lambholm South Sophomore Turf against Florida-breds on March 29 for trainer J.K. Sweezey. The gelded son of Noble Bird won a $35,000 optional claiming, starter allowance on the grass at Gulfstream three starts back on February 26 and next was second in a first condition allowance race for Florida-breds going a mile on the Gulfstream turf on March 6.
He has earned $88,200 for Starry Night Racing while winning two of nine starts with two seconds and two thirds. He is out of Polly, by Brethren and was bred in Florida by Arindel.
Jose Morelos will ride the 12-1 program choice from post four.
Also at 12-1 in the program is Florida-bred Bronze Bullet, winner of the $100,000 Pulpit Stakes going a mile-and-70-yards on synthetic at Gulfstream in November. He has been third in all three starts this year, the last being a first condition allowance race sprinting five-and-a-half furlongs on the Gulfstream synthetic on April 2.
Bronze Bullet is by Leinster out of Renovation, by Alternation and was bred in Florida by Charles Weston and Robert Vickers.
Trainer Jose D’Angelo has given the riding assignment to Leonel Reyes and they will break from post seven.
Trainer Michael Yates saddles Florda-bred Bolero Bay, a winner of two of five career starts including his last race on April 9 when four-and-a-half lengths the best in a $35,000 optional claiming, starter allowance on the all-weather course.
Bolero Bay is by Basin out of Essence of Audre, by Exchange Rate and was bred in Florida by Larry Alan Wynn. He has earned $45,570 for Mast Thoroughbreds from two wins in five starts.
Sonny Leon rides from post five and they are listed at 20-1 on the morning line.
Rounding out the field are Zephyros and jockey Samy Camacho, Knoty Knicks with Manny Vasquez in the saddle, A Million Dreams will have Paco Lopez up and J.G. Torrealba will guide Vekomasan.
Return to the May 1 issue of Wire to Wire
