BY GULFSTREAM PARK PRESS OFFICE
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Stakes-winning colt Fourth and Central and stakes-placed filly Finding Strength continue to train forwardly ahead of planned starts in the second legs of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Florida Sire Stakes series for juveniles by registered Florida sires at Gulfstream Park.
Shadybrook Farm Inc.’s Fourth and Central, a Florida-bred son of Stonehedge Farm South stallion Cajun Breeze bred and owned by trainer Michael Yates, was a front-running 10-1 upset winner of the six-furlong Dr. Fager, the six-furlong first leg of the series on Sept. 6, drawing away by a length-and-three-quarters in 1:11.18.
“I thought it was a very good race for him. He was on the outside and kind of got to dictate the race,” Yates said Sunday. “I feel like he’s going to move forward.”
A few races prior to the Dr. Fager, LNJ Foxwoods and Church Street Stable’s Finding Strength, by Ocala Stud’s leading Florida sire Khozan and also trained by Yates, dueled with favored Lennilu from the start and fell a nose short in the six-furlong FSS Desert Vixen, her stakes debut. Already a stakes winner, Lennilu came back to win the $75,000 Leinster Hollywood Beach Sept. 27 and is being pointed to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (Grade 1) Oct. 31.
“She ran really hard. Being down on the inside, I kind of felt like he had to use her a little more early on, and she kind of did more on her own than I expected,” Yates said. “She just lost the bob.”
Fourth and Central (:49.91) and Finding Strength (:49.44) have breezed once since their last race, each going four furlongs Sept. 24 over Gulfstream’s main track. Yates anticipates them returning to the work tab in the coming days.
“We plan to work them this week,” he said. “They’re galloping well. We’re just kind of biding our time,” Yates said. “We’ve got two fit horses that are training well and eating good. We’re keeping our fingers crossed.”
The FSS series continues Oct. 18 at Gulfstream with the $150,000 Affirmed for 2-year-old colt and geldings and the $150,000 Susan’s Girl for 2-year-old fillies, each sprinting seven furlongs. Entries will be taken and post positions drawn Saturday, Oct. 11.
“We’re going on to the seven-eighths,” Yates said. “That’s our intention.”
