BY GULFSTREAM PARK PRESS OFFICE
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL—Undefeated and unchallenged Florida-bred Rated by Merit breezed five furlongs over a fast Gulfstream Park track Sunday morning in preparation for a highly anticipated start in the $200,000 Affirmed, the seven-furlong second leg of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Florida Sire Stakes series to be run Oct. 19.
The St. Elias Stable’s homebred 2-year-old colt was timed in :59.76 for his second workout since capturing the Sept. 7 Dr. Fager, the six-furlong first leg of the Florida Sire Stakes series for juveniles sired by accredited Florida stallions.
“I just wanted to let him work a nice five-eighths of a mile with a moderate gallop-out. He did it within himself,” trainer Michael Yates said. “He cooled out like he had been out for a normal gallop. I’m very happy with it.”
Jockey Jesus Rios, who has ridden Rated by Merit in both starts, was aboard for Sunday morning’s breeze.
Rated by Merit debuted with a nearly 10-length front-running victory at Gulfstream July 13, earning a 92 Beyer Speed Figure that was the fastest of all 2-year-olds at the time. The son of Battalion Runner came right back and posted a 93 Beyer Speed Figure while winning the Dr. Fager by six-and-a-quarter lengths.
Although Saturday’s Clairborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland and the Nov. 1 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) had become viable options, Rated by Merit’s connections opted to stay home for the Affirmed and the $300,000 In Reality, the mile-and-a-sixteenth final of the Florida Sire Stakes Series set for Nov. 30.
“We just want to develop the horse, so we decided it would be in his best interests,” Yates said while noting that it would be “cramming” to run in the two out-of-town races. “It would be a lot for a young horse that has run twice. We thought it would be best to space it out and have a nice steppingstone from seven eighths, if he runs well there, to the mile-and-a-sixteenth.”
Florida-bred R Morning Brew was also prominent on Gulfstream Park’s worktab Sunday morning. Like Rated by Merit, R Morning Brew is undefeated in two starts.
The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained 2-year-old daughter of Curlin’s Honor breezed four furlongs in :47.80 in preparation for the $200,000 Susan’s Girl, the seven-furlong second leg of the Florida Sire Stakes series for fillies Oct. 19. R Morning Brew, who debuted with a four-and-a-half-length romp Aug. 9 at Gulfstream, won the $100,000 Desert Vixen, the six-furlong first leg of the Florida Sire Stakes series, by five-and-a-half lengths.