Friday • July 16, 2021 FEC/FTBOA PUBLICATION www.wiretowire.net FLORIDA’SDAILYRACINGDIGEST FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION or to subscribe, please call An- toinette at 352-732-8858 or email: [email protected] In This Issue: Royal Ship, Rushie Top Field of Nine for San Diego Value Proposition Leads Brown-Trained Trio in Forbidden Apple Brown Saddles Lemista, Pocket Square Attempting to Extend Diana Record Streaking Bango Heads Ellis Park’s Good Lord Stakes Florida-bred Hot Rod Charlie/BILL DENVER EQUIPHOTO Hot Rod Charlie Installed as 6-5 Track Results & Entries Morning Line Favorite in Haskell Florida Stallion Progeny List Florida Breeders’ List BY MONMOUTH PARK PRESS OFFICE Despite their considerable accomplish- ments so far this season, none of the colts OCEANPORT, N.J. – For the first time in has earned a Grade 1 victory. The mile-and- Wire to Wire Business Place the storied history of the $1 million an-eighth Haskell presents the opportunity TVG.com Haskell Stakes (Grade 1), the to reach that top level, and it also offers the runners-up in all three jewels in the Triple chance for an all-expenses-paid spot to the Crown series will line up in the starting gate $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Featured when the one of North America’s most pres- (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 7 as part of the Advertisers tigious races is renewed for the 54th time at “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Chal- Monmouth Park on Saturday. lenge Series. Bloodstockauction USA On the strength of his valiant second- The Haskell is the highlight of Mon- place finish to Essential Quality in the Bel- mouth Park’s 48-stakes race schedule, and Eagle View Farm mont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1) it marks the beginning of the all-important Florida Department of Agriculture in the final leg of the Triple Crown last time second half of the season to determine the out, the Doug O’Neill-trained Hot Rod divisional champion and potentially the FTBOA Charlie has been installed as the 6-5 morn- eventual Horse of the Year. Ocala Breeders’ Feed & Supply ing line favorite from post position four in Authentic launched his 2020 Horse of the field of seven talented 3-year-olds. Seminole Feed See HOT ROD CHARLIE on page 3 Wire to Wire July 16, 2021 Back to Top Page 3 Hot Rod Charlie Continued from COVER the Year campaign last year by winning the Haskell Stakes be- fore going on to win the Ken- tucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) (re- scheduled last year to Sept. 5 due to COVID-19) and the Breeders’ Cup Classic. “To win the Haskell would be huge. Just huge,” reigning Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox said. Cox will send out 2-1 morning line second choice Mandaloun, the runner- up to Florida-bred Medina Spirit in the Kentucky Derby. Brad Cox/COADY PHOTO Mandaloun, a Juddmonte Farms homebred, won the TVG.com Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park in his last start June 13 while prepping for the Haskell. A Kentucky-bred son of Into Mischief, Mandaloun will depart from post three under Florent Geroux, who has ridden the Grade 2 winner in each of his previous seven starts. “He’s a good horse and he’s been training extremely well,” Cox said. “This [level] is where we belong. I love this horse.” Breaking just to his outside in post four will be Hot Rod Charlie and Flavien Prat, who was aboard for the Belmont and for the Ken- tucky Derby, where the horse and rider were third, just one length behind Mandaloun. “I think the draw sets it up perfectly for us,” Roadrunner Rac- ing’s Greg Helm said. Helm co-owns the colt along with Boat Rac- ing, Gainesway Stable, and William Strauss. “Charlie is a pretty versatile runner. Obviously in his last couple of races he went out strong. We’ll see what Flavien feels like coming out of the gate, but I imagine it will be a similar race as the last couple.” Spendthrift Farm’s homebred Following Sea, an especially promising colt recently transferred to the stable of newly-elected Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, drew the rail and Joel Rosario gets the return call. The son of champion sprinter Run Happy has won his last two starts by a combined 12¼ lengths but is stretching out from six-and-a-half furlongs for the first time as well as attempting a two-turn race and stakes company for the first time. Also expected to draw considerable interest is the Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred Midnight Bourbon, the Preakness Stakes runner-up behind winner Rombauer. Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the colt has yet to win a graded stakes but has been impressive while competing against the top of the 3-year-old crop all season. Midnight Bourbon, a half-brother to 2017 Haskell-winner and current Ocala Stud stallion Girvin, will have seven-time Monmouth Park leading rider Paco Lopez aboard and depart from post six. See HOT ROD CHARLIE on page 5 It pays to breed Florida-breds Learn more about Breeders’ Awards www.ftboa.com The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Wire to Wire July 16, 2021 Back to Top Wire to Wire July 16, 2021 Back to Top Page 5 Royal Ship, Rushie Top Field of Nine for San Diego BY DEL MAR PRESS OFFICE__________________________ DEL MAR, CA—Royal Ship (Brz), a son of Midshipman trained by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella will be the object of much at- tention for Saturday’s 80th running of the $250,000 San Diego Handicap (Grade 2) at Del Mar. The 5-year-old gelding, who made his U.S. debut finishing third in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile Handicap won by Mo Forza here last August, has bloomed in the Southern California handicap division this spring with a victory in the Californian (G2) in April at Santa Anita and a runner-up finish to Country Grammer in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) in late May at Santa Anita. Royal Ship is out of Bela Val (Brz), by Val Royal (Brz) and is Royal Ship/BENOIT PHOTO owned by Fox Hill Farm Inc. or Siena Farm LLC. He has won six Rushie did not make the Derby starting gate, but instead won of 13 career starts with two seconds and two thirds with earnings the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile presented by LG and E and Ku by a of $263,305. length-and-three-quarters on the same card at Churchill. Royal Ship has post four and Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith For his career, Rushie has won three with two seconds and two will be aboard. thirds from 10 starts while earning $601,151 for owners Jim Daniell Royal Ship will be joined in the San Diego, a traditional stepping and Donna Daniell. stone to the $750,000 TVG Pacific Classic (G1) on Aug. 21 at Del Rushie was bred in Florida by Ocala Stud, who also consigned Mar, by Express Train and Florida-bred Rushie, who were third and him to the 2020 Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale where West fourth respectively in the Gold Cup. Bloodstock paid $70,000 to purchase him. Trained by John Shirreffs for C R K Stable LLC, Express Train Another top contender for the San Diego is Mo Mosa, a winner won the Grade 2 San Pasqual going a mile-and-one-eighth at Santa of his last two for trainer Michael McCarthy and owners Martin Anita on Jan. 30 in his first start of the year before finishing second or Martin. to Idol in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap going a mile-and-one- The son of Uncle Mo out of Roughing, by Eskendereya won quarter on March 6. He then traveled to Arkansas in April for the the $82,500 Bosselman Pump and Pantry/Gus Fonner Stakes going Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap at a mile-and-one-eighth to finish third a mile-and-a-sixteenth at Fonner Park on April 24 and the Steve behind winner Silver State before returning to Southern California Sexton Mile (G3) at Lone Star Park on May 31. for the Gold Cup. The consistent Mo Mosa has four wins, four seconds and three Express Train is by Union Rags out of I’m a Flake, by Mineshaft thirds from 16 career starts with earnings of $453,875. Jockey and he has three wins, four seconds and two thirds from 11 career Ramon Vazquez will take him from post six. starts with earnings of $509,300. The remaining contenders in the San Diego in post position Juan Hernandez gets the return mount of Express Train, who order include Kiss Today Goodbye, Sheriff Brown, Magic On Tap, will break from post five. Tripoli and Heywoods Beach. Rushie has drawn the inside post for trainer Michael McCarthy and will be ridden by Umberto Rispoli. Nine to Go in Osunitas The 4-year-old son of Liam’s Map out of Conquest Angel, by A field of nine older fillies and mares was entered Wednesday Colonel John will be making his third start of the year after also for Saturday’s 66th running of the $80,000 Osunitas Stakes at one finishing second, but just a nose short of winner By My Standards, mile on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course. in the $400,000 Oaklawn Mile on April 10. The field, in alphabetical order: Brooke (Umberto Rispoli); Can- Last year, Rushie competed for a spot in the Kentucky Derby dura (Trevor McCarthy); Dynasty Of Her Own (Kyle Frey); presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) early when third in the mile- Heathers Grey (Tyler Baze); Ippodamia’s Girl (Joe Bravo); Nasty and-one-eighth Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) won by Honor (Ricky Gonzalez); Sedamar (Juan Hernandez); She’s So Special A.P.