BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Florida-bred juvenile filly Gerrards Cross takes her unblemished record to Saratoga Sunday for the $150,000 Bolton Landing for eight 2-year-old fillies going five-and-a-half furlongs on the Mellon turf.

A homebred for James M. Chicko of Ocala, Fla., Gerrards Cross has never been headed at any point of call in her two starts, including in a two-and-a-half-length victory in the $112,000 Colleen at Monmouth Park on July 27. Ridden by Sonny Leon, the chestnut daughter of Midshipman was well clear of her peers through quick fractions of :21.29 and :44.71 before finishing two-and-a-half lengths in front while completing five furlongs in :57.50 on the firm turf.

 

She was more dominant in her first race on June 6 at Gulfstream Park, winning by six lengths against Florida-bred maiden special weight fillies going five furlongs on dirt.

 

Gerrards Cross is out of Spanish Concert, by Concerto and she has earned $85,000 in her two races. 

Trainer Kathleen O’Connell has again asked Leon to ride Gerrards Cross, who is 8-1 on the morning line and will break from post five.

Breaking from the immediate left of Gerrards Cross from post four is 8-5 program favorite Cy Fair, a three-and-a-quarter-length winner of a maiden special weight for fillies going five-and-a-half furlongs on the Saratoga grass on July. 10.

Trained by George Weaver and ridden by John Velazquez, Cy Fair sat behind frontrunner Gracie’s Delight through a :21.51 split before swinging four-wide in the turn and taking over at the top of the stretch. 

“It was impressive. We were happy with her, and she definitely ran well enough to deserve a chance in this race,” Weaver said. “She’s push-button. She’s willing and eager to go whenever you want her to and she gave us what she wanted and we’re leading her over there ready.” 

Cy Fair is by Not This Time out of the Arch mare Remarqued, a half-sister to Crimson Advocate, who won the 2023 Queen Mary (Group 2) at Royal Ascot for Weaver.

“They’re both very fast,” Weaver said of Cy Fair and Crimson Advocate. “It’s always cool to have some connections in the family when you train one—especially one that was successful. We’re looking forward to the next step for her.”

An earner of $55,000 in her one start, Cy Fair will again have Velazquez aboard for the Bolton Landing.

Rounding out the entries are Sapphire Beach (Ire) with Jose Lezcano taking the riding chores, My Sweetheart will tote Jose Ortiz, Snow Face Princess and jockey Flavien Prat, Irad Ortiz Jr. rides Sacred Goddess, Should’ve will be guided by Joel Rosario and Luis Saez has the call on Bramble Blast.

Return to the August 16 issue of Wire to Wire