BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-breds Souper Williwaw and Sheshimaintenance, who together account for five wins in six races since June, take their recent success into Monday’s $100,000 HBPA Stakes for 11 fillies and mares going a mile-and-70 yards over the all-weather course at Presque Isle Downs.
An out-of-state stakes victory by either Souper Williwaw or Sheshimaintenance here would earn their respective breeder a $4,000 Export Incentive check paid directly by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Live Oak Plantation homebred Souper Williwaw has won two of her last three but makes only her second start on synthetic. In March of last year in her career debut, she was third in a five-furlong maiden special weight on the all-weather course at Gulfstream Park.
Her 11 races since have all been on grass including a triumph in the $98,000 Violet Stakes going a mile-and-a-sixteenth at Monmouth Park on August 22 and winning a second condition, $32,000 optional claiming going a mile at Delaware Park on June 3.
Most recently, the Michael Trombetta-trained daughter of Hard Spun was second, beaten less than a length when she couldn’t hold off winner Starship Athena in the $100,000 George Rosenberger Memorial at a mile-and-sixteenth on the Delaware Park sod on September 12.
Souper Williwaw has won four of her 12 career starts with two seconds and a third while earning $196,167. She is out of Souper Striking by Brilliant Speed and will be ridden by Charlie Marquez from post six.
Souper Williwaw is the second choice in the program with 5-2 morning line odds.
Trainer Seljko Krcmar ships Sheshimaintenance to Presque Isle from Woodbine where the 4-year-old filly has won her last three, all going a mile on grass, and four of six with a second and a third since May.
Among her four wins in that span are a length-and-a-half tally going six-and-a-half furlongs on synthetic versus $15,000 optional claiming, starter allowance fillies and mares on May 22. Her recent three-race win streak began on July 31 with a four-length victory in a $25,000 starter handicap at a mile and continued with a two-and-a-half length tally in a first condition, $32,000 optional claiming on August 16. She won her last start by two lengths in a second condition, $50,000 optional claiming on September 19.
Sheshimaintenance has 11 wins with a second a four thirds in 23 starts while earning $261,329 for owners Mary T. Self and Polly Benson.
By Instagrand out of Kleodora, by Tiznow, Sheshimaintenance was bred in Florida by Chester Bishop of DelRay Beach in the name of his Bishop Racing.
Fraser Aebly will guide Sheshimaintenance from the outside post and they are 10-1 on the morning line.
Fantastical also travels from Woodbine where she won the Grade 3 Trillium presented by Don Julio going nine furlongs on the synthetic main track two starts back on July 25. More recently, trainer Joe Sharp saw her finish second to Lupa in the Grade 3 HPIbet Ontario Matron over a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the all-weather course at Woodbine on September 12.
The 5-year-old mare is the 8-5 morning line favorite in the HBPA Stakes with a lifetime record of six wins, seven seconds and four thirds in 23 starts with revenues of $568,158.
Edwin Gonzalez will ride Fantastical from post five.
Rounding out the field are Just Ruthless with Antonio Gallardo riding, jockey Israel Rodriguez teams with Keepthedreamalive, Princess Attitude will have Teshawn Hazelwood in the saddle, Gaddiel Martinez has the riding assignment on Cairosa, Allamericanbeauty will have Scott Spieth up, Domino Vitali will be guided by Jorge Ruiz, Peitro Moran is named in the program with Fiery Lucy (GB) and Make the Boys Wink will be ridden by Hector Diaz Jr.
Return to the October 10 issue of Wire to Wire
