BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Second in her last three starts, Florida-bred Rugelach looks to snap that streak with a victory as the 9-5 morning line favorite in Wednesday’s featured ninth race, a second condition, $32,000 optional claiming for fillies and mares, 4-years-old and older. Nine will go a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the turf for a purse of $56,500, $23,000 of which comes from Florida Owners Awards and the Tampa Bay Downs/HBPA/Florida Fund.
Rugelach began her streak of runner-up finishes at Del Mar in August when a neck behind winner The White Lady in a first condition, $50,000 optional claiming going a mile-and-sixteenth on the grass when trained by George Papaprodromou. Since owned and trained by Sam Wilensky, she returned to Florida and Tampa Bay Downs to finish a neck shy of winner Silver Moonlight going a mile on the turf in a second condition, $32,000 optional claiming on November 19. Last time, Wilensky took her to Gulfstream Park for the $75,000 Sunshine Filly and Mare Turf won by Souper Zonda going a mile on January 10.
The 6-year-old mare is by Twirling Candy out of Proud and Charming, by Proud Citizen and was bred in Florida by CESA Farm. Ever consistent, Rugelach has finished with the top three in 12 of 19 career starts, winning five with seven seconds and three thirds. She sports lifetime earnings of $257,820, tops among her eight rivals Wednesday.
She was a $150,000 purchase by Eclipse Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale where she was consigned by New Horizon Farm.
Samuel Marin will ride Rugelach for the first time and they have drawn post six.
Golden Kernel Racing Stable’s Lady Cha Cha and Anne D. Scott’s True Spin also represent Florida breeders.
Trained in her last two starts by Laura Cazares, Lady Cha Cha looks to improve off her ninth-place finish last out in the Sunshine Filly and Mare Turf. In her first race from the Cazares barn, she came from ninth to finish fourth in a first condition, $25,000 optional claiming going a mile-and-a-sixteenth at Gulfstream Park on December 27.
Set at 10-1 on the morning line, the 5-year-old Lady Cha Cha races at Tampa Bay Downs for the first time since March of last year when second to Mohawk Trail in the $110,000 Pleasant Acres Stallions Distaff Turf going a mile-and-a-sixteenth.
She has a career record of three wins with a second and three thirds from 17 starts and earnings of $135,383. Another graduate of OBS, Lady Cha Cha was a $110,000 selection by Bach Stables at the 2022 Winter Mixed Sale where she was consigned by Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield consignment. She is by Vino Rosso out of Peisinoe, by Yes It’s True and was bred in Florida by English Range Farm.
Lady Cha Cha has post four and jockey Antonio Gallardo.
True Spin is trained by Kathleen O’Connell and tries for her first win since taking a first level allowance race sprinting five-and-a-half furongs on the Monmouth Park turf in June. The 5-year-old mare has has not been in the money in five starts since.
Bred in Florida by H & A Stables LLC, True Spin is by Hard Spun out of the Yes It’s True mare April Tune. She has won two of 12 career starts with a second and a third with earnings of $80,595.
True Spin is 30-1 in the program and will be ridden by Charlie Marquez from post eight.
Rounding out the field are Tour Queen with Sonny Leon up, Junta will have Jose Ferrer in the saddle, Jesus Castanon will guide Hurry Up Hannah, Explosive Lady has Hector Diaz Jr. taking the assignment, Edwin Gonzalez rides Make the Boys Wink and Accent (GB) will have jockey Samy Camacho.
Return to the March 10 issue of Wire to Wire
