BY BROCK SHERIDAN
C2 Racing Stable LLC’s Stat will make his first start against added-money company as a 5-year-old Sunday when the Florida-bred gelding goes in the $80,000 Soldier’s Dancer at Gulfstream Park. Despite having to wait until his 23rd career race to take on stakes company, the Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee is the 5-2 morning line favorite in the field of 11 3-year-olds and older who will race a mile on the turf.
Stat is also among six Florida-breds who will be eligible for the $20,000 bonus presented by Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association along with Souper Energizer, Sir Saffer, K. C. Chief, Starship Renegade and Themanupfront.
The Soldier’s Dancer is a logical next step for Stat, who has won two of three starts this year, all in upper level, $62,500 optional claiming company on the grass at Gulfstream Park.
He won his first start of the year by a length-and-a-half going a mile on Feb. 8 then finished fourth, beaten just two-and-a-half lengths by winner J P Hellish in going seven-and-a-half furlongs on March 21. In his last race, he won by a head going a mile on April 27.
By Will Take Charge out of Scateifucan, by Scat Daddy, Stat was bred in Florida by Rebecca Ming. He has won six with four seconds and two thirds while banking $272,720.
Stat is a graduate of Ocala Breeders’ Sales having sold for $20,000 to L. Jay Cuccia during the 2020 October Yearling Sale out of the Dynasty Thoroughbreds consignment.
Stat will be ridden by Edgard Zayas from post two.
Florida-bred K. C. Chief transfers to the grass for the first time in four starts after winning his last three races on the synthetic course at Gulfstream.
The 5-year-old gelded son of Noble Bird started his streak with a nearly five-length score at the $12,500 claiming level going a mile-and-70-yards on April 5 then won by a length-and-a-quarter against first condition, $20,000 optional claimers going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on April 27. He was then transferred to the barn of current trainer Jose D’Angelo and responded with a two-and-a-half-length victory against first condition, $25,000 optional claimers going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on June. 7.
K. C. Chief has won six with two seconds and two thirds while earning $196,380. He is out of Ashley River, by Deputy Wild Cat and was bred in Florida by J D Farms.
Edgar Perez has the call on K. C. Chief and they have post three. K. C. Chief is 8-1 on the morning line.
Themanupfront also enters the Soldier’s Dancer on a winning streak having taken his last two.
Trained by Michael Yates for Shadybrook Farm Inc. and Pam Klein, Themanupfront broke his maiden in his seventh career start against special weight company going seven-and-a-half furlongs on the grass on Feb. 29. He then won a first level, $75,000 optional claiming by three-quarters of a length at the same distance in his last race on May 17.
He also has a second and two thirds in his nine career starts with revenues of $125,910.
Jesus Rios will ride Themanupfront from post seven and they are 12-1 in the program.
The rest of the field is made up of Souper Energizer, who will be ridden by Cipriano Gil; Sir Saffer and jockey Jose Ferrer, Starship Renegade has Sonny Leon named to ride, Champions Dream with Edwin Gonzalez in the saddle, Teshawn Hazelwood rides Bluebirds Over, Novo Sol (Brz) has Drayden Van Dyke taking the call, Armstrong will carry Samuel Marin and Leonel Reyes rides Eyes On the King.
