BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Undefeated Florida-bred Souper Forces looks for his fourth victory in as many starts Saturday in the $125,000 Tropical Park Derby, for 3-year-olds going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the turf at Gulfstream Park. The Live Oak Plantation homebred is one of three Florida-breds entered in the field of 12 plus one hoping to draw in off the also-eligible list.  

Trained by Michael Trombetta, Souper Forces took the mile-and-one-sixteenth, $75,000 Showing Up Stakes on the grass in his last start, coming from six lengths back to win by a length-and-a-half. The gelded son of Laoban broke his maiden going six furlongs against special weight company on the all-weather course at Presque Isle Downs in August before traveling to Colonial Downs for his second start. Going one mile on the sod, Souper Forces was a length-and-three-quarters winner of a non-winners of two allowance on Sept. 3.

 

“He’s one of those kind of horses that blends into the crowd,” Trombetta said. “He just does his job and when he races, he gives it his best. The only thing I can say about this guy is: everything I’ve asked him to do, he’s done very, very well. He’s been a very pleasant surprise.”

Souper Forces is out of American Giant, by More Than Ready and has earned $103,500. 

Ciprano Gil, who rode Souper Forces for the first time in the Showing Up, gets the return mount Saturday. They have the outside post 12 and are 8-1 on the morning line.

Florida-bred Tank will start to the immediate left of Souper Forces from post 11 and is also 8-1 in the program.

Earlier this year the Carlos David-trained colt won three straight stakes starting with the $110,000 Equistaff Sophomore Turf versus Florida-breds on March 30 at Tampa Bay Downs. He took his next two on the Gulfstream Park turf, winning the $80,000 English Channel going a mile on May 3 and the $75,000 Not Surprising at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on June 7.

Saturday, he makes his first start since two unsuccessful tries on the grass at Saratoga Race Course, finishing sixth in the one-mile Hall of Fame (G2) on Aug. 1 and eighth in the $135,000 Saranac over a mile-and-a-sixteenth on Sept. 1.

“He was going really good, but in the last race, he broke really bad for Jaramillo. He can rate, but he needs to be close. He needs to break,” David said. “Those were really tough races against open company. I figured I’d give him a break and bring him back for this meet.”

Owned and bred by Arindel, Tank is by Ocala Stud stallion Adios Charlie out of the Brethren mare Vegas. He has won four with two seconds and a third in 13 career starts while racking up $298,470.

Emisael Jaramillo will again ride Tank.

Also carrying the Florida-bred flag is Roar of the Beast who tries for his first stakes victory in his turf debut after three solid efforts in overnight handicaps at Gulfstream.

He was third in the $70,000 Black Diamond Cat for older horses at a mile-and-sixteenth on Aug. 30, fourth, again against 3-year-olds and older, going a mile in the slop on Sept. 20 in the $70,000 Duke of Mischief then third last out versus straight 3-year-olds in the $70,000 Awesome Banner going a mile on Nov. 8.

In one try against stakes company this year, Roar of the Beast was seventh in the $103,000 Petramalo Mile for 3-year-olds at Colonial Downs on Aug. 9.

Roar of the Beast is trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. and has earned $81,360 for owner Lawson Racing Stables. His lifetime record reflects two wins and a second and two thirds in 10 starts. He is by The Big Beast out of Sound Defence, by First Defence and was bred in Florida by Peter A. Lawson.

He will depart post nine with Rajiv Maragh in the saddle and is 20-1 on the morning line.

Rounding out the field are Thundering with jockey Jomar Torres, Discreet Dancer will have John Velazquez in the irons, Javier Castellano has the call on Tiz Dashing, Church and State will be guided by Micah Husbands, Edwin Gonzalez rides Day and Age, Layabout has Junior Alvarado named to ride, Chapman’s Peak will carry Tyler Gaffalione, Simulate will have Joe Bravo in the saddle and Edgard Zayas takes the reins on Candytown. McRavin is on the also-eligible list.

Return to the December 12 issue of Wire to Wire