Anticipation running high for Three Rules in Affirmed

Shade Tree Thoroughbreds’ Three Rules has overwhelmed his rivals in all three career starts, giving the strong impression that he has so much more to offer, heightening anticipation for his return to action in Saturday’s $300,000 Affirmed Division of the Florida Sire Stakes (FSS) at Gulfstream Park.

His conformation, his versatile running style and his superior speed have provided convincing evidence that the son of Gone Astray has a bigger future than most precocious 2-year-olds, encouraging several lucrative offers to buy the colt that Shade Tree Thoroughbreds’ Bert Pilcher has thus far rejected.

Jose Pinchin is only too happy to continue training and developing the rising star.

“It’s so rewarding. It’s a lot of fun,” Pinchin said. “I don’t know what to compare it with.”

Three Rules, indeed, has been beyond compare at Gulfstream Park this season.

After training extraordinarily well for his debut, Pinchin’s trainee was bet down to even-money favoritism for his June 10 career kickoff. He lived up to the hype with a 3 ½-length victory, running five furlongs in 58.54 seconds under a hand ride from Cornelio Velasquez. Finishing a never-threatening but strong-closing second behind Three Rules was Gunnevera, who would go on to capture the Saratoga Special (G2) Aug. 14.

Three Rules delivered an even more dominating triumph while returning in the $75,000 Birdonthewire Stakes on the Summit of Speed program July 2, notching a five-length off-the-pace score at 4 ½ furlongs.

Three Rules stepped it up another notch while capturing the $200,000 FSS Dr. Fager Division Aug. 6 at 3-5 odds, rolling to a seven-length victory without the need for very much encouragement from Velasquez. The Florida-bred colt set a stakes record while running six furlongs in 1:09.49, despite popping a hoof abscess that had somewhat compromised his preparation for the first leg of the tradition-rich FSS series for juveniles sired by accredited stallions standing in Florida.

“It’s a lot of fun, but it’s a lot of work too, because you’ve got to be on top of everything,” said Pinchin, who awarded the return mount aboard the Florida-bred colt to Velasquez. “There can be a lot of pressure.”

Three Rules is expected to be an odds-on favorite for the seven-furlong Affirmed, in which he’s scheduled to face six rivals, including Front Loaded, a Pinchin trainee who finished a troubled third in the Dr. Fager. Owned by Stephen Rousseau and Calypso Stable, the son of Kantharos captured his July 8 debut by two lengths under Emisael Jaramillo.

Jewel Heist, a New York shipper who finished fourth in the Dr. Fager, has remained at Gulfstream Park to seek redemption in the Affirmed. The John Kimmel-trained juvenile, who scored a game debut victory at Belmont Park July 1 after pressing and/or setting the pace, disappointed as the 5-2 second choice in his first Gulfstream start. After dropping out of contention while breaking slowly from the No. 1 post position, the son of Wildcat Heir made a five-wide sweep to finish a distant fourth in a field of nine.

“The rail killed him. He missed the break and got hit (with dirt). He’d never really experienced that kind of kickback. It was over before he got started,” Kimmel said. “That horse has natural 22 (second), 45 speed and there he was a dozen lengths behind the leader in a 45-pace scenario over a similar track.”

Jewel Heist’s disappointing effort for owner Tobey Morton hasn’t shaken his trainer’s confidence in his ability.

“It’s kind of a throw-out race. I know the winner ran a big race, but I think he was good enough to give him a run for his money, if not, end up second,” Kimmel said. “We’ll hopefully have a much better showing the second time around.”

Tyler Gaffalione, the leading rider during the Summer Meet, has the mount aboard Jewel Heist.

Golden Legacy Stable’s Blessed Halo, who finished second at 60-1 in the Dr. Fager, is scheduled to make a third attempt to break his maiden in the Affirmed. In his debut, the son of Kantharos finished a distant fourth behind Front Loaded, who finished 2 ¾ lengths behind him in the Dr. Fager. Trainer Juan Rodriguez named Miguel Vasquez to ride Blessed Halo.

Trainer Stanley Gold, who has saddled a record 18 winners in the FSS series for 2-year-olds, is scheduled to saddle Herecomesthedude for a start in the Affirmed. The son of First Dude, who is owned by Sterling Racing and Ophir Sternberg, will be coming off a 3 ½-length debut victory Aug. 21 under Edgard Zayas. Despite his open-lengths victory, the Florida-bred colt demonstrated a lack of focus that has prompted Gold to equip him with blinkers for his return.

“When he got to the front he started looking around for some somebody to come up to him, which is why he’ll run with blinkers this time. I guess it’s a nice to be in a situation where he needed somebody to come up, because there was nobody testing him, but there was more horse there,” Gold said. “I don’t what him waiting on horses. He’s had blinkers on. He’s familiar with them. He breezed with blinkers at the sale and he’s had them on here since the race. That’s to keep him a little more focused, so if he gets in the same situation, he’ll have his mind on what he needs to do.”

Zayas has the return mount.