Josdesanimaux ready to add to turf success in Wasted Tears

A two-time stakes winner over the Gulfstream Park turf course, Josdesanimaux is set for a bid to add to that success in Saturday’s $75,000 Wasted Tears Stakes.

The Wasted Tears, a 1 1/16-mile overnight turf stakes for fillies and mares, will highlight the undercard of Saturday’s FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes program that will feature the $200,000 Affirmed Division and $200,000 Susan’s Girl Division.

Saturday will be a busy day, indeed, for trainer Ralph Nicks, who is slated to saddle Josdesanimaux for the Wasted Tears (Race 5) in addition to sending out two fillies (Pantyhose and Harbin Ice) for the Susan’s Girl (Race 10) and four horses (Phantom Ro, Capital S, Soutache and Kingston Pike) for the Affirmed (Race 12).

Palm Beach Racing Partnership’s Josdesanimaux returned from a short stint in New York to finish second behind Bonita by three-quarters of a length in the Panama City Handicap at Gulfstream Aug. 13.

“I thought it was a good race. It looked like maybe she’s rounding into good form,” Nicks said. “If she kept a straight course down the lane and the winner had to go around, I don’t know if she holds that horse off or not, but at least it was a jump forward from her previous races.”

The 5-year-old daughter of Leroidesanimaux, who captured the $150,000 Jewel Princess in 2015 and the $75,000 Panama City Stakes last year, has raced four times for Nicks. The Florida-bred mare finished third in an optional claiming allowance Feb. 24 off a four-month layoff before finishing fourth in the Honey Fox (G2) at Gulfstream and fifth in the Intercontinental (G3) at Belmont Park.

New York-based Eric Cancel has the mount aboard Josdesanimaux, who is scheduled for a rematch with Bonita.

Trained by Chad Stewart for Mario Silva, Bonita saved ground in the back of the pack before launching an impressive stretch drive inside Josdesanimaux to prevail in the Panama City. Emisael Jaramillo has the return mount.

Miller Racing’s King’s Ghost is slated for a bid for a second straight stakes victory in the Wasted Tears. The Marty Wolfson-trained mare, who has been rated as the 9-5 favorite, rallied from 10th to win the Treasure Coast July 15 by a nose. Jorge Ruiz has the return mount.

Multiple-stakes winner Temple Fur, Dad’s Princess, Imperial Secret and Mizz Money round out the field.

Notes: Leading rider Tyler Gaffalione make three visits to the winner’s circle Thursday after scoring aboard Fun and Games ($7.20) in Race 3, Righteous Ruth ($4.60) in Race 5 and Harasan ($7.40) in Race 8.