Requite begins comeback in Parrot Key

Limestone Thoroughbreds’ Requite had just made a huge stride forward in realizing his potential by finishing second in the Amsterdam (G2) at Saratoga last August when the George Weaver-trained colt sustained a serious injury.

“He injured one of his front hooves in a stall accident. He severed an artery, and it took a long time for it to grow back,” said Weaver, recalling the frightening incident. “He’s been doing fine. We’ve been happy with his training. We’re excited we finally got him back to the races.”

Requite is scheduled to make his first start in 10 months Saturday at Gulfstream Park in the $75,000 Parrot Key, one of seven stakes on the $525,000 Summit of Speed Preview program (12:45 p.m. first-race post). The Parrot Key is a prep for the $250,000 Smile Sprint (G2), which will co-feature the July 2 Summit of Speed program with the $250,000 Princess Rooney G2). Both graded-stakes are designated Breeders’ Cup ‘Win & You’re In’ events.

The 4-year-old son of Warrior’s Reward captured his career debut at Saratoga in August 2014, leading from start to finish to win going away by 3 ½ lengths.

“He’s always been a runner. He was a standout from the first day he stepped in the barn,” Weaver said. “He always outworked anything he worked with.”

Off his impressive debut performance, Requite ran right back in the Hopeful (G1), only to encounter trouble during a fourth-place finish behind victorious Competitive Edge.

“He got hit in his eye, that’s the only thing we could figure (for his disappointing performance),” Weaver said. “We sent him off for a little bit of time. When he came back, it took him a little time to get going. Then, he came fine. He’s always acted like a nice horse.”

Requite returned from an eight-month layoff to capture an optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream Park in May 2015, drawing away to a 3 ½-length victory. The Kentucky-bred colt came right back to win the Big Cypress Stakes on last year’s Summit of Speed Preview card and go on to run second in the Amsterdam.

Two other Weaver-trained horses will compete in Preview Day races, including Fusaichi Red in the $75,000 Sea Lily, a prep for the Princess Rooney. The 4-year-old daughter of Fusaichi Pegasus hasn’t run since finishing fourth in the Fort Springs at Keeneland on the Breeders’ Cup undercard Oct. 31.

“She’s been doing well. She might be a work behind Requite, but she’s at the point she needs to run. The race, I thought it would be a good place to get her started before we go north,” Weaver said. “I wasn’t originally pointing for this race, but she worked really well the other day, so I reevaluated my options and thought this was the best place to get started.”

Fusaichi Red raced twice last year at Gulfstream, finishing third in back-to-back maiden special weight races. She went on to break her maiden at Parx and capture the Miss Woodford Stakes at Monmouth Park.

The Weaver-trained Sokie is entered in the $75,000 Amelia Island, a mile turf event for fillies and mares. The 4-year-old daughter of Indian Charlie raced three times during the Championship Meet. She posted a front-running first-place optional claiming allowance finish in February, only to be disqualified and placed second for interference. She came right back to win at the same level March 20.

“She was still down with our string in Florida, so we figured we’d take a chance to get some back type at Gulfstream,” Weaver said. “She’s run some nice races there.”

All three horses are training at Palm Beach Downs but will soon be shipped north to Saratoga.

“I have only 11 at Palm Beach Downs right now. We’ll be out by the weekend, but it won’t be too long before we leave some down here year-round,” Weaver said.

Gelfenstein Farm’s Dearest became graded-stakes placed in only her third lifetime start when she finished third in the Davona Dale (G2) at Gulfstream Feb. 27. Her effort took on added prestige a couple months later when the 1-2 finishers in the Davona Dale, Cathryn Sophia and Lewis Bay, went on to finish 1-3, respectively ,in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Eve.

“In the Davona Dale, it was our filly’s first time at the distance of a mile and she was competing with the best fillies in the United States and she came in third place,” trainer Gilberto Zerpa said. “I'm sure we have a nice filly on our hands who can bring us great satisfaction.”

Dearest is scheduled to return from a three-month freshening in Saturday’s $75,000 Royal Palm, a 6 ½-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies.

“The filly has been working very well in her training,” said Zerpa, whose trainee has compiled a strong string of five breezes at Gulfstream Park West in preparation for the Royal Palm. “The filly is ready and in very good condition for his race on Saturday.”

Dearest debuted at Gulfstream Park West in November, scoring by two lengths over R Girls a Charmer, who came back to graduate by nearly seven lengths and win the Gasparilla Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs by 4 lengths. The daughter of Midshipman proceeded to win an entry-level allowance by 1 ¼ lengths at Gulfstream Jan. 17 before stepping up to graded-stakes company in the Davona Dale.

“We really expected the results we got from the filly. She breezed so well and she moved so comfortably and her post-exercise recovery was so quick,” said Zerpa, who named Emisael Jaramillo to ride the Kentucky-bred filly Saturday.

Dearest was purchased for $150,000 at the 2015 Ocala Breeders’ March Sale for 2-year-olds in training. Gelfenstein Farm’s interest in the filly was piqued by more than her impressive breeze.