HALLANDALE BEACH - St. Elias Stable’s Rated by Merit looms as a strong favorite in a field of seven entered  for the $200,000 Affirmed, next Saturday’s second leg of the 2024 Florida Sire Stakes series for 2-year-olds sired by accredited Florida stallions.

    The homebred son of Battalion Runner is undefeated and untested in two career starts, including a 6 ¼-length romp in the $100,000 Dr. Fager, the six-furlong first leg of the Florida Sire Stakes series. The Michael Yates trainee scored by 9 ¾ lengths in his July 13 debut at six furlongs, earning a 92 Beyer Speed Figure that was the fastest produced by a 2-year-old in 2024 at the time. He followed up with a 93 Beyer Speed Figure while setting a stakes record (1:09.45) in his Dr. Fager win. Jesus Rios, who was aboard for Rated by Merit’s two dominating wins, has the return mount.

    Ian Parsard, Stefania Farms and Shining Stables’ Neoequos, a son of Neolithic who contested the early pace early before settling for second in the Dr. Fager, is scheduled to return in the Affirmed. Amy Dunne and trainer Patrick Biancone’s Classic of Course, who finished third in the Dr. Fager after losing a photo finish for win in the Proud Man Stakes, is also entered.

    Arindel’s Lou, John Minchello’s Zizka, and Alex and JoAnn Lieblong’s Big Paradise round out the field.

    Averill Racing’s R Morning Brew was entered to seek her third victory without defeat in the $200,000 Susan’s Girl, the second leg of the Florida Sire Stakes series for juvenile fillies that will co-headline next Saturday’s program.
The daughter of Curlin’s Honor, who followed up a 4 ½-length debut victory with a 5 ½-length score in the $100,000 FSS Desert Vixen Sept. 7, is slated to face 6 rivals in the seven-furlong Susan’s Girl. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has awarded the return mount to Edgard Zayas.

    Christian Maingot and trainer Jose Pinchin’s Wiggle an’ Wine and Troy Johnson and Maritza Weston’s Win N Your In, who finished second and third, respectively, in the Desert Vixen are scheduled to return in the Susan’s Girl.  Win N Your In finished three quarters of a length behind Wiggle an’ Wine after finishing 4 ¾ lengths clear of the Pinchin trainee while winning the Sharp Susan Aug. 10.

    Patricia’s Hope LLC’s Rogue Diamond, an impressive two-length debut winner for trainer Larry Rivelli at Hawthorne, is scheduled to make her FSS debut in the Susan’s Girl. Stonehedge’s Don’t Fool With Me, Shadybrook Farm’s I’malwaysthinking, and trainer Angel Rodriguez’s Kip the Distance round out the field.

    The two featured stakes will be supported on an 11-race program by the $100,000 Gil Campbell Memorial Handicap, which drew a field of 7 including Arindel’s Octane, who won the Gr. III Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn.

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