Chiefswood
Stable’s Aurora Lights looked good winning the Sabin Stakes (G3) going a mile
over the Gulfstream track on Feb. 27 by 2 ¾ lengths and Alex Brodsky’s
Don’t Forget Gil drew clear for a 2 ¼ lengths victory in the Wayward Lass
Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs last out on the same afternoon.
The two
4-year-old fillies face off Saturday going 1 1/8 miles in the Rampart Stakes in
a field of eight fillies and mares with Cornelio Velasquez on Aurora Lights for
trainer Eric Coatrieux and Ramon Dominguez atop Don’t Forget Gil for trainer
Mark Hennig.
The
intriguing player in the Rampart will be Paula C. Stud’s 4-year-old Venezuelan-bred
filly Bambera, a winner of 16 of 18 starts in Venezuela
and most recently capturing the Clasico del Caribe in Puerto
Rico on Dec. 6. Regular rider Edgar Perez will be on
hand to ride the daughter of Water Poet for Calder-based trainer Pablo Andrade.
Completing
the field are Farnsworth Stables’ Champagne Eyes, Javier Castellano; Ersoff
Racing’s Even Road, Cornelio Velasquez; Lael Stable’s Miss Match, Alan Garcia;
Team Valor International’s Miss Singhsix, Julien Leparoux; and Peter Vegso and
Gary Seidler’s Unrivaled Belle, Kent Desormeaux.
Kiss the Kid Bids for Appleton
Repeat
Hardacre
Farm’s versatile 7-year-old Kiss the Kid left South Florida last winter for
summer quarters at Monmouth Park after winning the Appleton Stakes as the
favorite and will be among the choices to capture the 7 ½ furlongs turf test
again Saturday with jockey Eddie Castro aboard for owner-trainer Amy Tarrant.
A son of
Lemon Drop Kid, Kiss the Kid has not won a race since then, but not because he
hasn’t run well as he was beaten three times by a neck when second in stakes
since then – the Oceanport over a ‘sloppy’ track at Monmouth Park in early
August, the Meadowlands Cup (G2) in mid-October and ‘off the turf’ Ft.
Lauderdale Stakes (G3) here on Jan. 10.
In one
start since the Ft.
Lauderdale,
Kiss the Kid was never a factor chasing Quality Road
home seventh last in the Donn Handicap (G1) on Feb. 6.
Completing
the field of nine older horses drawn for the 59th Appleton are H B O Stable’s
Almoradi, Agnes Peace’s Boots Ahead, Joyce Young and Gerald McManis’ Carson
Hall, Elle Boje Farm and partners’ Rahy’s Attorney, Charles Fipke’s Society’s
Chairman, Edward P. Evans’ Storm Play, Chandley Farms’ Suyeta and R.A. Hill
Stable and Vic Fontana’s Together Indy.