The long-awaited return of Three Rules highlights a huge stakes-filled Saturday at Florida's tracks, with four of the rich events slated for Tampa Bay Downs and five at Gulfstream Park.

    Three Rules is a son of Gone Astray who won his first five starts at two in 2016, while adding his name to the list of winners of all three divisions of the Florida Sire Stakes series. At three, he was second in the Gr. II Swale, third in the Gr. II Fountain of Youth, fifth in the Florida Derby, third in the Chick Lang and first in the Gr. III Carry Back at Gulfstream in his last start on July 1. 

    Three Rules has earned $939,160 and can become Florida's latest millionaire with a victory in the $125,000 FTBOA Marion County Florida Sire Stakes at seven furlongs. The colt bred by his owners, Shade Tree Thoroughbreds, Geoff Roy and Tom Fitzgerald, has Emisael Jaramillo aboard and is listed at 3/2 in a field of seven in the third race on the program.

    Next at 8/5 with Antonio Gallardo is the gelding Mo Cash, a son of Ocala Stud's Adios Charlie who finished second to Three Rules in the Carry Back. Mo Cash led every step of the way before Three Rules nailed him at the wire by a neck. Previously he had won the American Fabius and OBS Sophomore Stakes and was second in the Big Drama. 

    The other stakes are the $125,000 FTBOA City of Ocala Florida Sire for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs with R Angel Katelyn (High Cotton) listed at 2-1 with Gallardo; the $100,000 Sandpiper for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs and the $100,000 Inaugural for 2-year-olds at six furlongs. Aside from the two $125,000 races, the rest of the Tampa program features 2-year-olds.

    With just 15 days left in the calendar year after Saturday, leading sire lists in several categories can be decided by both the Tampa and Gulfstream races. 

    Most of Florida's leading sires and leading freshman sires are represented on the Saturday cards, and Ocala Stud has a slew of them.  At Tampa alone, the venerable farm is represented by In Summation, Awesome of Course, Adios Charlie, Hear No Evil, Prospective, repatriated Kantharos and pensioned High Cotton. Ocala Stud has brought in several new stallions for the 2018 season, the latest being Rainbow Heir, who they hope will be an able replacement for his sire, the late Wildcat Heir, the unquestioned Florida leader for the last six years or so, including this one, in which he has progeny earnings of more than $6 million. 

    Frosh sires represented are Anthony's Cross, Poseidon's Warrior, Winslow Homer, the surprising Passion for Gold, Rattlesnake Bridge and Beau Choix. Aside from Adios Charlie, High Cotton, In Summation and Awesome of Course, other top 10 Florida sires in the mix are Wildcat Heir, With Distinction, First Dude, Gone Astray and Two Step Salsa.   

    

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