Sweet Khaleesi tries to beat R Kinsley Doll in Jewel Princess

Arindel’s Sweet Khaleesi will try to turn the tables on R Kinsley Doll in Saturday’s $150,000 Jewel Princess Division of the Florida Sire Stakes (FSS) at Gulfstream Park, where six stakes will be offered in conjunction with the tradition-rich series for horses sired by accredited Florida stallions.

Sweet Khaleesi finished second, 1 ¼ lengths behind R. Kinsley Doll, in the $150,000 FSS Three Ring Aug. 6 after bobbling at the start of the six-furlong stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

“I’m hoping with that last out, she’s going to improve some. She will need to. If she does, she can be right there for it,” said trainer Ronny Werner, whose filly will be running at seven furlongs for the first time. “I feel good about the seven (furlongs). She’s a pretty good sized filly with a long stride to her. She will rate, so I don’t see any reason why she won’t get the seven.”

The 3-year-old daughter of Maimonides had previously captured a June 25 optional claiming allowance off an eight-month layoff, registering a game triumph over a pair of next-out winners in second and third.

“She’s just been all forward. It’s kind of been a dream to train her,” said Werner, who also serves as farm manager for Arindel. “We had a little bit of a foot problem before her last race. She overcame that. It was nothing major. Outside of that, she’s been doing really well.”

Sweet Khaleesi, who was unable to hold off a late-charging R Kinsley Doll after pressing the pace in the Three Ring, will be ridden for the first time by Edgard Zayas.

Leading rider Tyler Gaffalione will be back aboard R Kinsley Doll in the Jewel Princess. The daughter of Big Drama, who is owned by Averill Racing and Silver Oak Stable was rated off the pace in the Three Ring before making a five-wide sweep that carried her to victory for trainer Ralph Ziadie.

Laguna Beach Stable and XYZ Racing’s Dixieland Dudes, who finished third in the Three Ring, is set to return Saturday. The Diane Morici-trained daughter of First Dude finished three-quarters of a length behind Sweet Khaleesi after pressing the pace last time out.

Graded stakes-placed Ballet Diva is slated for an attempt to make amends for a sixth-place finish at 1-2 odds in the Three Ring. The multiple-stakes winner of more than $440,000 in earnings is scheduled to be joined by Jacks or Better Farm stablemate Silent Prayer in Saturday’s race.

She’s Incredible and Long Distance round out the field.

Braddy to Saddle Mr. Kisses for FSS Prized in Search of Milestone

Two wins shy of his 1000th career trip to the winner’s circle, trainer David Braddy is set to saddle Mr. Kisses for Saturday’s $150,000 FSS Prized for 3-year-olds at Gulfstream Park.

Owned by Champion Equine LLC, the son of Big Drama is coming off the best performance of his career, a going-away 3 ½-length optional claiming allowance triumph completed in a swift 1:09.87.

“He ran so good in that race. I hope he is going in the right direction. This is another step,” Braddy said. “The horse is training good. He’s got to step up and get it done.”

Mr. Kisses began his 2016 campaign with a win (via disqualification) and two other on-the-board finishes in $30,000 claiming company prior to his recent win against Florida-bred rivals. Despite finishing off-the-board in his final three races in 2015, the dark bay gelding had finished a strong second behind Dream of Me in the FSS Dr. Fager Division last season.

“We’re taking a shot because when he ran the day before the other horses, he ran almost a second faster than they did,” said Braddy, referring to Dream of Me’s 1:10.30 clocking in the FSS Unbridled Division Aug. 6.

Braddy has saddled 998 winners during a successful career that began in the 1980s.

“It’s been a struggle (to reach 1000). I sure would like it to be over with. It seemed like the horses were running real good until I got two away,” said Braddy, who has saddled five winners from 20 starters during the Summer Meet. “It’s something I want to get done and something I’m proud of, but it’s just not that great today with your super trainers. They win 100, 200 races a year.”

The ever-modest Braddy has named Emisael Jaramillo to ride Mr. Kisses. Tyler Gaffalione, who had been aboard for his last three races, opted to stick with multiple graded-stakes winner Awesome Banner. The Jacks or Better homebred, who captured the Swale (G2) and the Hutcheson (G3) during the Championship Meet, was upset at 1-20 in the FSS Unbridled, in which he pressed the early pace from the inside and was no match for Dream of Me’s late rally. The Mark Casse-trained colt had previously finished a close second in the Carry Back (G3) and captured the Big Cyprus Stakes.

Kathy Machesky’s Dream of Me, who took it to Awesome Banner to set a pressure pace on his way to a sharp victory last time out, looms as the horse to beat in the seven-furlong Prized. Juan Leyva has the return mount aboard the Anna Varsi-trained colt.

Michael Bernard’s Danbury, who returned from a six-month layoff to finish a tiring fourth in the Unbridled, and Tracy Pinchin’s Call to Honor, the third-place finisher in the Unbridled, are scheduled to take on Dream of Me and Awesome Banner again Saturday.