Following an 11th-place finish in the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) at Del Mar, Whisper Hill Farm’s Grand Sonata aims to get back on track Dec. 21 in a nine-horse $215,000 Ft. Lauderdale Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream Park.
The 5-year-old son of Medaglia d’Oro cuts back in distance to 1 1/8 miles following three consecutive 1 1/2-mile starts that included a half-length victory in the Sept. 7 Kentucky Turf Cup (G2T) at Kentucky Downs.
Grand Sonata is 2-for-3 on the Gulfstream Park turf with his lone loss coming when fourth, beaten 3/4 lengths, in this race last year. However, he is just 1-for-6 at the distance but has hit the board three times.
In his corner is Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who will also saddle Spendthrift Farm’s three-time graded stakes winner Major Dude off a two-length allowance victory at Keeneland Oct. 10.
Live Oak Plantation’s Win for the Money also exits the Breeders’ Cup, having finished 10th in the Mile (G1T). The 5-year-old Mohaymen gelding is doing the opposite of Grand Sonata, stretching out to 1 1/8 miles after three consecutive one-mile starts that included a win in the Sept. 10 Woodbine Mile (G1T).
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Win for the Money wins the Woodbine Mile at Woodbine
Win for the Money has also shown an affinity for the Gulfstream turf, having crossed the wire first in both starts but once getting disqualified to second.
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. enters three in Cash Equity , Saratoga Flash , and Lorenz . The field also includes graded stakes winners Fort Washington and Emmanuel .
South African G1 Winner Makes U.S. Debut in Suwanee River
The Saturday card is billed as Pegasus Preview Day ahead of the Jan. 25 World Cup, and the $165,000 Suwanee River Stakes (G3T) certainly has its share of international flavor.
Pletcher’s lone entrant is Bless My Stars , bred and raced in South Africa. Owned by Gary Barber and Team Valor International, the group 1-winning 5-year-old mare makes her United States debut and her first start since February.
Cayton Park Stud’s group 3 winner Golden Hostess has already made two starts in the United States since her move from South Africa for trainer Graham Motion. The 5-year-old mare most recently was second in the six-furlong Autumn Days Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack Nov. 8.
Also making her U.S. debut is group 2-placed Ribaltagaia , a 3-year-old daughter of Blame trained by Gianluca Bietolini for The Estate of Albert Frassetto. She was most recently 16th over soft turf in the Prix de la Foret (G1) at Longchamp Oct. 6.
For the American-based runners, Glen Hill Farm’s Ocean Club , trained by Jack Sisterson, and Michael Ryan’s Be Your Best , trained by Joseph Jr., both exit grade 3 victories at Aqueduct.
