Florida Sire Stakes series slated to resume Saturday

The $1.4 million FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series is slated to resume Saturday at Gulfstream Park with the renewals of the $200,000 Affirmed Division for 2-year-olds colts and geldings and the $200,000 Susan’s Girl for juvenile fillies.

The seven-furlong events for juveniles sired by nominated Florida stallions will highlight a 13-race program scheduled to get underway at Noon.

Ralph Nicks-trained Phantom Ro is scheduled to vie for his third victory without a loss in the Affirmed after registering an impressive front-running victory in the $100,000 FSS Dr. Fager Aug. 5. The gray son of Wildcat Heir defeated odd-on favorite Dunk by 4 ¾ lengths in the six-furlong kickoff of the 2017 FSS series, following up a 2 ¼-length debut victory. Nicks is pointing three others to the Affirmed, including Soutache, fourth in the Dr. Fager, Kingston Pike and Capital S.

Dunk is slated for an attempt to make amends for his Dr. Fager loss in the Affirmed for trainer Stanley Gold, who has saddled a record 18 FSS winners.

Angel Rodriguez-trained Go Astray, who pulled off a 2 ¾-length upset victory in the $100,000 FSS Desert Vixen, is set for a return in the Susan’s Girl. Awesome Mass, who finished second as the 7-10 favorite in the Desert Vixen, is expected to be entered in the Susan’s Girl.