Gunnevera's stablemate Lirica headlines Sugarloaf Key

Antonio Sano sent out Lirica for a 2 ½-length an optional claiming allowance triumph Aug.13, but he has delegated the saddling duties to assistant trainer Jesus Prada for the 3-year-old filly’s quest for back-to-back wins Saturday in the $50,000 Sugarloaf Key Handicap at Gulfstream Park.

Sano will be otherwise occupied saddling Gunnevera for the $1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, where the multiple graded-stakes winner is slated to face 11 other 3-year-olds in the 1 ¼-mile summer classic.

“He’s doing very good, very good,” said Sano by phone from Saratoga. “I’m very happy with my horse.”

Magic Stables LLC’s Lirica, like Gunnevera, does her best running while settling off the early pace and offering a strong kick through the stretch. Unlike her more celebrated stablemate, the daughter of Kantharos is geared toward one-turn competition.

A stakes winner last year, Lirica has won five of 14 career starts with three seconds and two thirds. She has run three times at six furlongs, winning two, including her most recent victory.  Marcos Meneses has the return mount aboard Lirica in the Sugarloaf Key, a six-furlong sprint that attracted eight fillies and mares.

“The filly is very good at the short distance. I hope my filly will have another very good race Saturday at six furlongs,” Sano said. “She is training really well. She is in optimal condition.”

Trainer Anthony Russo’s Money or Love and Arindel’s Sweet Khaleesi, who finished 1-2 in the recent Added Elegance Handicap, are among Saturday’s most prominent entrants. Money or Love has scored a pair of upset stakes victories at Gulfstream, capturing the Added Elegance at 20-1 July 29 and the $100,000 Musical Romance at 38-1 May 27. Sweet Khaleesi, who made a wide late surge to lose by a neck in the Added Elegance, had previously won an optional claiming allowance by 4 ¾ lengths.

Jairo Hernandez has the mount on Money or Love, while Emisael Jaramillo will ride Sweet Khaleesi.