Florida Two-Year-Olds in Action at Gulfstream and Aqueduct
Tuesday, April 18, 2017

    Two Florida-bred 2-year-olds have made a seasonal appearance thus far, I'm Corfu, by freshman sire Corfu, finishing fifth at Keeneland and Heir Horse One, by deceased champion Wildcat Heir, finishing fifth at Turf Paradise. That will change early in the day tomorrow by way of a pair of rich filly races at Aqueduct and Gulfstream Park, both at 4 1/2 furlongs.

    The second race at the Big A is a $100,000 maiden special that has drawn a field of six, including Stream of Gold, a daughter of Get Away Farm's Two Step Salsa, one of Florida's leading sires. On Sunday, Two Step Salsa's second-leading money-earner, Classic Salsa, won at Laurel Park to gain his 11th victory in a span of 31 races, raising his lifetime bank account to $374,169. The 6-year-old doesn't appear to be slowing down, getting the six furlongs in 1:10.57 after posting fractions of :22.28, :45.66 and :57.80, and winning by 1 3/4 lengths. Classic Salsa has two victories and a third in three starts this year, and was claimed out of the race for $20,000. The consistent performer has also won at Belmont Park, Aqueduct, Pimlico, Tampa Bay Downs and Turfway Park. 

    At about the same time that the Aqueduct race goes off, Gulfstream's second will feature a field of seven fillies competing for $50,000, which includes an FOA of $5,000. The No. 1 horse is Go Astray, a daughter of Northwest Stud's highly successful Gone Astray. She's owned and bred by Ramiro Medina.

    No. 2 is Panty Hose, by Ocala Stud's Awesome of Course, owned and bred by Fred Brei's Jacks or Batter Farm. 

    No. 3 is DiMaria, a Kentucky-bred, followed by the first two runners by Pleasant Acres Stallions' freshman sire Brethren. No. 4, Minaj, and No. 5, Baylor, are both owned and bred by Arindel, one of the co-owners of the stallion by Distorted Humor who won Tampa's Sam F. Davis Stakes. 

    The 6 horse is Kentucky-bred Lounge Act, trained by the country's perennial leading 2-year-old conditioner at this time of year, Wesley Ward, and No. 7 is La Chica Ripool, the first runner by Woodford Thoroughbreds' Soldat. She's owned and bred by Carlos Munoz. 

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