BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Returning from two months away from the races, Florida-bred Sweet Dani Girl has been installed as the 2-1 morning line favorite for Saturday’s $75,000 PTHA President’s Cup at Parx Racing. Last year’s Florida-bred champion female turf horse is among 13 fillies and mares entered to go a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the grass. However, 7-2 morning line second choice Evidencias (Brz) and Priyanka at 4-1 in the program are entered under main track only conditions.
Sweet Dani Girl has won two of three starts this year for trainer Christophe Clemente, starting with a length-and-a-half victory in the $89,000 Sunshine Filly and Mare Turf versus Florida-breds going a mile at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 14. She then won an upper level, $62,500 optional claiming against open fillies and mares going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the grass at Gulfstream on Feb. 24 before returning to face Florida-bred fillies and mares in the Pleasant Acres Distaff Turf at Tampa Bay Downs on March 24. However, she was a disappointing fourth as the 2-5 favorite behind winner Charlie’s Wish in the Florida Cup event contested at a mile-and-a-sixteenth.
With career earnings of $499,610, Sweet Dani Girl looks to surpass the half-million-dollar mark Saturday for owners Michael Dubb, Steven Bouchy, New Phoenix Stable and America’s Pastime Stables LLC who purchased her privately before she started her 2024 campaign. She has a consistent career record of six wins, two seconds and two thirds from 16 races.
Sweet Dani Girl is by Jess’s Dream out of My Sweet Dani Girl, by Scat Daddy and was bred in Florida by J&J Stables LLC and Carlo Vaccarezza.
She has drawn post one and Miguel Sanchez will ride the 5-year-old mare for the first time.
Breaking to the immediate right of Sweet Dani Girl from post two will be Tequilera, who makes her second start of the year. The 5-year-old mare was third in the Grade 3 Gallorette won by Fluffy Socks at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the Pimlico turf on May 18.
She won two consecutive races among her eight starts last year including against allowance fillies going seven furlongs on the Keeneland turf in September. She then defeated second condition, $40,000 optional claiming fillies going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the turf at Laurel Park in early November. In her final start of last year, she was seventh, but only four-and-a-half lengths behind winner Full Count Felicia, in the Grade 3 Suwannee River over a mile on the Gulfstream turf on Dec. 30.
By Vancouver (Aus) out of Tejida, by Rahy, Tequilera has won three of 17 career starts with five seconds and four thirds for earnings of $259,718. She is owned by John T. Behrendt and is 9-2 on the morning line.
Frankie Pennington has the riding assignment for the first time.
Should the President’s Cup be taken of the turf, Evidencias will look for her first win in five starts in the United States since coming from her native Brazil in 2023. A winner of the Grade 1 Henrique de Toledo Lara at Ciudad Jardim in 2022, she has a second and two thirds in three starts this year including her last race when third behind winner Steel Racer as the odds-on choice in a first level, $25,000 optional claiming going a mile on the main track at Gulfstream on March 27.
She is also trained by Clement but will race in the dark green colors of owners James Wigan and Denford Stud. Her career ledger reflects four wins, three seconds and three thirds in 13 starts with earnings of $84,220. She is by Drosselmeyer out of Fiji Mambo, by Kingmambo.
Miguel Sanchez is also named on Evidencias and have post 12.
Rounding out the field are Canisy, to be ridden by Daniel Centeno; Kevin Gomez rides Sun Bee, Girlfromouterspace has no rider named at press time, Precious Avary and jockey Silvestre Gonzalez, Mirari will have Gavin Aston in the saddle, Southampton Dock and rider Carol Cedeno, Majestic Creed with Andy Hernandez aboard, One Silk Stocking has Angel Rodriguez taking the riding assignment, Dexter Haddock rides Instinctive and Priyanka, who also has Kevin Gomez named to ride.
