Pletcher represented by Sonic Mule and Bahama Halo in turf stakes

Two-year-olds will get a chance to test the turf in a pair of $75,000 events at Gulfstream Park on Saturday in the Armed Forces Stakes and the Our Dear Peggy Stakes. Todd Pletcher, who has captured 13 consecutive training titles at Gulfstream’s Championship Meet, recently shipped down the first portion of his Florida string and will be represented by Sonic Mule in the Armed Forces and Bahama Halo in the Our Dear Peggy.

A $175,000 yearling purchase by Calumet Farm, Sonic Mule debuted with a win at Monmouth Park on July 15. He lost all chance on the turn next out in the Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) on August 14, but was put up to third via disqualification, and most recently finished third in the $100,000 Sapling Stakes over a mile at Monmouth on September 4. The Kentucky-bred son of Distorted Humor will be making his first turf foray in the Armed Forces.

Jockey Edgard Zayas has the call aboard Sonic Mule, who will break from post four.

Four Horsemen Racing Stable’s unbeaten Sweetontheladies will try grass for the first time in the Armed Forces. A battling winner first out for trainer Henry Collazo in a five-furlong test on the Gulfstream dirt on July 2, he opened up by 3 1/2 lengths going six panels in an optional claimer on August 19. The speedy son of Twirling Candy will break from the rail on Saturday with Marcos Meneses aboard.

D P Racing’s Unbridled Holiday, a $420,000 acquisition as a yearling, ran third in a maiden over this course and distance on August 27. The Patrick Biancone trainee followed that with a second going a mile on the main track on September 17 and switches back to turf this time. Unbridled Holiday drew post three and will be ridden by Lane Luzzi.

The Armed Forces field is rounded out by Exclusively Ours, Inkspired, Whiskey Train, Cinderela El Crome and Gemologister.

Later on the card in the Our Dear Peggy, Bahama Halo will face nine other fillies in search of her first stakes victory. The Lets Go Stable colorbearer graduated impressively on the turf at Belmont on June 22 before finishing fifth against a tough group in the $100,000 P.G. Johnson Stakes at Saratoga on September 1.

Purchased for $350,000 as a yearling, Bahama Halo will be ridden by Edgard Zayas. She will break from post three.

Backstage, bred and owned by her trainer Roger Laurin, has been competitive in each of her four starts on the Gulfstream grass. After crossing the line first in an August 24 maiden, the Put It Back filly was disqualified and placed second behind Silver Diva, but duly graduated next out as the 3-5 choice on September 4. Drawn in stall seven, Backstage will be ridden by Cornelio Velasquez.

Silver Diva was purchased privately by Arindel following her last start and turned over to trainer Ronny Werner. The daughter of Circular Quay has three additional runner-up efforts on the turf at Gulfstream. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione has the call aboard Silver Diva, who will break from post nine.

The Our Dear Peggy cast is completed by Clouded Appeal, Creative Talent, Martha’s Valentine, Southern Sis, Wedding Jitters, Callie California and Devilish Romance.

Turf Runners Tussle in Mr. Steele, Panama City
 

The one-mile $75,000 Mr. Steele Stakes attracted a field of eight veteran turf horses, led by the consistent Aire Bueno. The Chilean-bred gelding has won four of his last six starts on the grass at Gulfstream, including the $75,000 Miesque’s Approval Stakes on July 2. He followed that with a rallying score over Diamond Bachelor in an optional claimer on August 19, and most recently settled for third behind the front-running Diamond Bachelor in the $75,000 The Vid Stakes on September 3.

Owned by Simon and La Estrella, Aire Bueno will have regular rider Matthew Rispoli in the irons. He drew post seven.

Diamond Bachelor, campaigned by the partnership of Diamond 100 Racing Club, Robert Trussell and trainer Patrick Biancone, will look to back up his 15-1 upset last out. The 5-year-old son of War Front should be able to flash his speed from the two hole on Saturday. He will be ridden by Lane Luzzi on Saturday.

Completing the Mr. Steele line-up are Simferopol, Best Plan Yet, Good and Proper, Copingaway, Savoy Stomp and Enterprising. We’re All Set and Bullet Gone Astray were entered as main-track only.

A dozen older fillies and mares will clash in the $75,000 Panama City Stakes going a flat mile on the grass. Arindel’s Pink Poppy has displayed her early foot to great advantage on the turf at Gulfstream, posting wins in the $75,000 Spook Express Stakes on July 2 and the $75,000 Wasted Tears Stakes on September 3. Trained by Ronny Werner, Pink Poppy will be ridden by Edgard Zayas and will break from post three.

Susie Bee, a two-time stakes winner on the turf at Gulfstream, will represent Calumet Farm and trainer Mike Maker. Second to Pink Poppy in the Spook Express, the English Channel filly most recently finished fourth in the $350,000 Ladies Turf Stakes at Kentucky Downs on September 3. Jockey Jose Valdivia Jr. will be in the saddle aboard Susie Bee, who is drawn in post two.

John Eaton and Steve Laymon’s Daring Kathy romped by 5 1/4 lengths against Florida-breds in the $75,000 Soaring Softly Stakes on August 6, but was caught in traffic en route to a close fifth in the Wasted Tears. The David Fawkes trainee drew post nine and will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione.

The Panama City will be rounded out by Kiss to Remember, Josdesanimaux, Caboclo do Rio, Determined Lady, Vendita, Swettie Girl, Killer Bird, Dad’s Princess and Truth. Untrue is a main-track only entrant.

Source: Gulfstream Park