BY STEVE KOCH
Arindel homebred Fear heads three Florida-breds attempting to take the $125,000 Exacta Systems Rosie’s Stakes when they face European import Rogue Legend (GB) and six other challengers in Tuesday’s featured seventh race. The five-and-a-half-furlong turf test for 2-year-olds has drawn a competitive field of 10, with Rogue Legend installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite despite this being his first start on American soil.
Fear is the 3-1 second choice and hails from the barn of trainer Jose D’Angelo.
The son of Ocala Stud’s leading juvenile and freshman sire of 2024, Win Win Win, has compiled a record of one victory, a second and a third from three starts with earnings of $66,529. Fear captured a five-furlong maiden special weight by a length-and-a-half on Aug. 2 in his first start on grass at Gulfstream Park.
Bred by Randell Mendonsa and Cherie Abner, Fear showed steady improvement through his career, finishing third in a maiden special weight at Keeneland on April 18 after running second to fellow Florida-bred and Rosie’s foe Wine Candy at Gulfstream on June 29 prior to his breakthrough victory.
Fear is out of Loxley, by Awesome of Course and has $66,529 in earnings from his three races.
Paco Lopez has the mount from post four.
Trained by Wesley Ward, Rogue Legend brings solid European credentials with a record of two wins, a second and a third from four starts and earnings of $50,661.
The son of Havana Grey comes off a busy May campaign that included three starts in quick succession. He finished second at Cork on May 6, won at Cork on May 20 and captured another victory at Tipperary on May 27 before finishing third in the Windsor Castle at Ascot in June.
Rogue Legend has post eight and will be ridden by Kendrick Carouche.
Florida-bred Chasing My Dream, bred by Ocala Stud and listed at 12-1 on the morning line, brings a one-for-two record to the stakes test.
The son of Win Win Win improved in his second start as a two-and-a-half-length winner of a five furlong maiden special weight on grass at Gulfstream Park on June 6 after finishing fifth on debut in the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile won by Sandal’s Song on May 10.
Sold to Narvick International for $180,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale where he was consigned by Ocala Stud, Chasing My Dream will be ridden by Daniel Centeno for trainer J. David Braddy and owner Champion Equine LLC.
An earner of $54,900 in is two races, Chasing My Dream has post three.
Wine Candy completes the Florida trio at 8-1 morning line odds.
Trained by Michael Yates, the son of Vino Rosso has won one of three starts with a third while earning $51,330. Wine Candy won his second race in the aforementioned maiden special weight against Fear on June 29 before finishing third in the $75,000 Proud Man won by Florida-bred Diciassette on Aug. 9.
Bred by Valerie Mastromonaco, Tristan de Meric and Gus King, Wine Candy is out of the Candy Ride (Arg) mare Clawback and will be ridden by Jaime Rodriguez from post five.
Royal Testament gives trainer George Weaver a solid chance with the daughter of Midshipman drawing the six-gate under Eric Cancel. Ward will saddle a second runner in Gypsy Art, a son of Munnings who will be ridden by Victor Espinoza.
The field is completed by Mr Randy with Gavin Ashton, Antrax has Franciso Arrieta taking the riding assignment Red Lad (20-1) and longshot Richeztoo (30-1).
Parts of this articled drafted by Claude.ai.
Return to the Sept. 3 issue of Wire to Wire
