Undefeated Three Rules likely for 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile

Undefeated Three Rules exited his thoroughly dominating 10-length triumph in Saturday’s $500,000 In Reality at Gulfstream Park in good order, likely to parlay his sweep of the 2016 Florida Sire Stakes (FSS) series into a trip to Santa Anita for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) Nov. 5.

“He’s great. He’s not tired at all. He came out perfect from the race,” said trainer Jose Pinchin Sunday morning. “If everything works out well his next race will be the Breeders’ Cup.”

Shade Tree Thoroughbreds’ Three Rules, who has won his five lifetime starts by a combined 31 lengths at Gulfstream, would have the opportunity to duplicate the accomplishment of Awesome Feather, who exited a sweep of the 2010 FSS series for fillies undefeated and went on to capture the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). Big Drama, who swept the 2008 FSS series, went on to win the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).

“It’s a dream. We are little guys in the game. We’re not the Todd Pletchers and the Chad Browns,” Pinchin said. “We’re little guys in the game. It’s a dream come true for us.”

Three Rules has had a dream start to his career, beginning with a five-furlong maiden victory June 10, which was followed by four straight stakes victories, including the six-furlong $200,000 FSS Dr. Fager by seven lengths Aug. 6 and the seven-furlong $300,000 FSS Affirmed by 5 ½ lengths Sept. 3.

The son of Gone Astray was sent around two turns for the first time in the 1 1/16-mile In Reality, in which he was sent right to the lead by jockey Cornelio Velasquez and was never threatened thereafter while winning in handy fashion over Thegreatcollection, who had captured the Evangeline Downs Prince Stakes in his previous start.

“I think this was the easiest race he’s won. He won by 10 lengths, and it was his easiest race. Everything worked out well for him,” said Pinchin, whose trainee has earned $680,640. “[Velasquez] said everything was good; he won nice and easy; he said he just galloped all the way.”

Curtis Mikkelson’s Cajun Delta Dawn came up short in her attempt to sweep the FSS series for fillies in Saturday’s $500,000 My Dear Girl, in which the previously undefeated filly broke from the No. 13 post position, was rushed to the lead to set the pace into the stretch before faltering and finishing fourth.

Donald Dizney’s Dude Fantasy followed up a debut victory at Gulfstream Sept. 2 with a triumph by three-quarters of a length in the My Dear Girl.

The daughter of First Dude stalked the pace into the stretch before splitting horses to grab the lead and holding off late-charging Surprise Wedding, a stablemate of Cajun Delta Dawn in the David Fawkes barn.

“It was a lot of fun. She’s very straight forward, very professional. I expected her to perform well. It was very rewarding to see one run up to the expectations,” said trainer Ralph Nicks, who reported Dude Fantasy was ‘in good shape’ Sunday morning. “You don’t expect to win, but I expected her to run well, and she did. We got lucky with the trip and the favorite drawing the outside post.”