BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Sound of the Beast is hoping for a clean trip Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs when the Florida-bred colt races in the $50,000 Inaugural, a six-furlong test for 2-year-olds. Bumped at the start of the $85,000 Juvenile Sprint at Gulfstream Park before finishing second to fellow Florida-bred Squints in his last race on Nov. 11, Sound of the Beast is the only juvenile among the field of eight in the Inaugural who will be racing for an a $50,000 win bonus for Florida Sire Stakes-eligible runners.
Trained by Rohan Crichton for Lawson Racing Stables, Sound of the Beast will be trying for his first stakes victory in three tries having also finished fifth after a four-wide trip in the $200,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Affirmed won by Bentornato at Gulfstream Park on Oct. 21.
The son of The Big Beast has won one of four career starts, a length-and-three-quarters victory in a five-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream on Aug. 12.
Out of Sound Defence, by First Defence, Sound of the Beast was bred in Florida by Peter A. Lawson and has earned $64,160 in his four starts.
Sound of the Beast is 3-1 on the morning line and will be ridden from post five by Edwin Gonzalez.
Favored at 9-5 in the program is Patriot Spirit for trainer Michael Campbell and owner Mellon Patch Inc.
Patriot Spirit comes into the Inaugural also looking for his first black type victory in three tries having finished sixth in the Grade 3 Iroquois won by West Saratoga going a mile at Churchill Downs on Sept. 16 and more recently fourth in the $169,000 Bowman Mill won by Glengarry at six furlongs at Keenland on Oct. 28.
He has earned $48,500 in his three career starts after being purchased by George Mellon for $235,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale where he was consigned by Clary Bloodstock.
Patriot Spirit has drawn post eight and Samy Camacho has the riding assignment.
Other Florida-bred contenders in the Inaugural are Rathmore with 6-1 morning line odds and El Principito, who is 30-1 in the program.
Rathmore exits a gate-to-wire victory over a sloppy six furlongs during the Belmont at Big A meet on Oct. 21 in his second career start. The chestnut son of Cupid is trained by Thomas Albertraini for The Three Colleens Stable and was bred by Heather Smullen.
Samuel Marin will ride Rathmore, who will break from post one.
El Principito makes his first start since finishing seventh in the $65,000 Armed Forces won by Freedom Principle going a mile-and-70-yards on the Gulfstream Park synthetic course on Nov. 4.
Bred by Southwind Stables Inc., El Principito was a $20,000 purchase by Michael Laurato out of the Colin Brennan Bloodstock consignment at the 2022 OBS October Yearling Sale. He was also consigned by Gene Recio at the OBS June Sale this year but did not meet his reserve.
Ademar Santos has the riding assignment on El Principito and they will break from post six.
Rounding out the field for the Inaugural are Gotts Got It with Antonio Gallardo named to ride, Sir flash and jockey Angel Arroyo, Crazy Mason will have Mychel Sanchez aboard and Carol Cedeno rides Sir Mi Tolee.
