HALLANDALE BEACH - Shooting Star Thoroughbreds LLC’s Chance It has breezed a half-mile in :46.85 seconds under jockey Edgard Zayas at Gulfstream Park in preparation for a scheduled start in the $200,000 Affirmed Division of the Florida Sire Stakes Series on Aug. 31.

    The workout, which was the fastest of 79 recorded at the distance, was the son of Currency Swap’s first since capturing the $100,000 Dr. Fager, the first leg of the Florida Sire Stakes series, by 3 ¼ lengths on Aug. 3.

   “It was on the quick side, but, visually, you could tell how easily he did it,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “He has an efficient way of going. Even in the morning when he’s galloping, you’ll have him on the clock and he’ll be clicking 16s [seconds]. He looks like he’s going 19 or 20 – that’s his efficient way of going, that’s what makes him the horse he is.”

    Joseph had planned to work Chance It in company, but when he seemed especially keen to get back on the work tab, the decision was made to allow the long-striding colt to do his own thing. “He went good. It worked out good,” Joseph said.

    Chance It will be asked to stretch out a bit from the six furlongs of the Dr. Fager to the seven furlongs of the Affirmed. “I don’t think it’s going to be a problem," Joseph said. "Obviously, each time you’re doing the unknown, there’s always that doubt, but from what he shows, up to a mile and an eighth I don’t think is going to be any problem."

    Chance It, who finished second in his June 1 debut, bounced back to offer a brilliant 9 ¼-length triumph at Gulfstream on June 29. The Florida-bred colt won the 5 ½-furlong maiden special at Gulfstream in 1:03.95 while being wrapped up in the stretch and earning a 91 Beyer – a figure that was the fastest in the country at the time and one that he matched in the Dr. Fager. comments powered by Disqus