Festival of Sun Features the Undefeateds


For the first time in Florida Stallion Stakes history, the top juveniles in each division can sweep the three-race string in the same year at Calder Race Course.

Amazingly, it also marks the first time in the 22 years that each undefeated colt and filly contender can achieve the feat in the biggest races for Florida-bred 2-year-olds.

Punctuating the magnitude of such an achievement is 880 juveniles were nominated for this meeting's rendition of the track's 2-year-old showcase. It's restricted to offspring of nominated stallions standing in the state in 2000 and kept eligible through a series of payments as weanlings, yearlings and juveniles this year.

Eight stakes, including both $400,000 co-features, are worth $1.35 million on the 12th Festival of the Sun card at the South Florida track on Oct. 11.

Sir Oscar will seek his fifth consecutive victory in the In Reality at 1 1/16 miles.

"The next one is the big one," trainer Manny Azpurua said after the son of Halo's Image took the seven-furlong Affirmed by 1 ½ lengths, defeating 10 other colts and one gelding on Aug. 30. "With his style he had to be wide on the turn. That just comes with it. It worked out fine. I really believe he'll go two turns. He's doing everything I could want him to. I just hope there will be less horses next time."

Winning jockey Julio Garcia has been aboard all four victories. "I know the horse - he's a nice horse. My horse broke perfect - remember last time he didn't break good. He was sharp and ran a good race."

French Village goes for her fourth straight triumph in the My Dear Girl, also 1 1/16 miles.

"Now it gets interesting," trainer Bill White said after the daughter of Jules captured the Susan's Girl by 1 ½ lengths on Aug. 30. "When 2-year-olds go two turns for the first time, you're in no man's land. My challenge is that she's a light-bodied filly that you don't want to train hard. She only had one five-eighths work since her last race. So I'll have to balance between not training her too hard and yet keep her fit enough."

Winning rider Gary Boulanger was happy with the chance to ride her for the first time. "She's a special filly. She is an exceptional filly. She kind of gave me a scare coming out of there (starting gate) -- she broke really hard to the outside. That's the first sign of a good horse when they can overcome adversity and put themselves back in the race without having to do anything but hang on to her."
The copyright of the article Festival of Sun Features the Undefeateds in Horse Racing is owned by Greg Melikov. Permission to republish Festival of Sun Features the Undefeateds in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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