BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-bred Stunner, a winner of the Listed Tempted Stakes in New York last year, tries to improve on her black-type credentials Saturday in the $165,000 Forward Gal (Grade 3) at Gulfstream Park. The seven-furlong contest has attracted 11 3-year-old fillies, including four Florida-breds who run for a $15,000 bonus presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Trained by Brad Cox, Stunner won two of her four starts last year including a six-and-a-half-furlong maiden special weight at Aqueduct in her second start in September and the $150,000 Tempted going a mile at Aqueduct on Nov. 2.
Stunner makes her first start since Nov. 30 when second to fellow Florida-bred and Forward Gal rival My Denysse in the $300,000 My Dear Girl at a mile-and-a-sixteenth, the final leg of the filly division in the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes. Stunner had troubles in the My Dear Girl, jostling and prematurely opening the gates before the start then stumbling as she began.
Stunner is by Girvin out of Spun Beauty, by Hard Spun and was bred in Florida by the late Brereton C. Jones. With a record of two wins and two seconds in four starts, she has earned $212,000 for owner LNJ Foxwoods and Church Street Stable.
Stunner is a graduate of the 2023 Ocala Breedeers’ Sales October Yearling Sale where bloodstock agents Alex Solis II and Jason Litt purchased her for $190,000 out of the Airdrie Stud consignment.
The bay filly will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione from the outside post 11.
My Denysse, a Florida homebred for trainer Ruben Sierra’s Just for Fun Stable Inc. of Weston, Fla., also makes her first start since winning the My Dear Girl at odds of 35-1.
By Pleasant Acres Stallions’ resident Neolithic out of Sophia’s Pride, by Pleasant Tap, My Denysse was winless in her first four starts against maiden special weight fillies at Gulfstream with a second and two thirds. She has career earnings of $212,900.
Jesus Rios will get the return mount on My Denysse from post six.
Trainer Jose D’Angelo will saddle Florida-bred Frida after she won a maiden special weight for state-bred fillies by nearly six lengths after six-and-a-half furlongs at Gulfstream on Jan. 3 in her second start.
Having finished second to You Need Me in her first race, Frida sports $38,000 in revenues for owner Luis Gavignano and his Lugamo Racing Stable LLC.
Emisael Jaramillo, who has ridden Frida in both of her previous races, will again be aboard when they break from post 10.
Florida-bred Volatiled enters off a second-place finish to Florida-bred Mrs. Worldwide in the $65,000 Juvenile Fillies Sprint going six-and-a-half furlongs at Gulfstream on Nov. 16. A homebred for John B. Penn of Ocala, Volatiled broke her maiden by two lengths two starts back against Florida-bred fillies going six furlongs on Oct. 27.
Volatiled is by Volatile out of Sonja’s Angel, by Smoke Glacken and has earned $37,400 from one win and one second in three starts.
Trainer Fernando Abreu has given the riding assignment to John Velazquez and they have post eight.
There have been 14 Florida-bred winners of the Forward Gal including R Harper Rose last year. Others are Pomeroy’s Pistol (2011), Frolic’s Dream (2009), Bsharpsonata (2008), Miss Inquistive (2000), Glitter Woman (1997), Mindy Gayle (1996), Chaposa Springs (1995), Spinning Round (1992), Charon (1990), On To Royalty (1988), Added Elegance (1987), Noranc (1986) and All Manners (1982).
Return to the January 30 issue of Wire to Wire
