South Florida Mile Preview
Granted I haven’t seen very much in my short time with this game, but I was surprised to see that out of all 14 horses entered in this weekend’s South Florida Mile not a single one has a graded victory. You would think that maybe one or two U.S. graded horses would stick around to face a group that as a whole has not achieved much, but that’s not the what happened here. Instead the closest horse to a graded victory is five year-old THE PONTIFEX who finished 2nd in the G2 Hall of fame & 3rd in the G3 Movie Cup back in 2016. I’ve come to figure the reason for such a group to come together is a combination of the measly 150K purse plus all the big boys are overseas chasing turf events in Australia and South Africa.
Despite the lack of accolades in here, this group is still very capable as most in here have already run speed figs that would suggest they belong in graded company already. Before we jump into this year’s runners lets take a peak back at the history of the South Florida Mile the last 9 years.
| Horse | Odds | Speed Fig | Favorite | |
| 2017 | WORLDCLASSQUALITY | 7 | 117 | No |
| 2016 | MAGIC BLACK | 6 | 117 | No |
| 2015 | WEEKEND JOY | 15 | 111 | No |
| 2014 | TOP TIER SCION | 7 | 112 | No |
| 2013 | PARTY ON GARTH | 4 | 110 | Yes |
| 2012 | SLICK CURL | 5 | 112 | No |
| 2011 | KALAMUNDA | 2.7 | 112 | Yes |
| 2010 | CALLHEADSORTAILS | 3.39 | 110 | Yes |
| 2009 | TAKE CHARGE | 2.5 | 106 | No |
Post Parade:
1. SEVENTH AVENUE (7-1)
Jockey: D Zordich
Trainer: super6
This guy has never won a stakes race at any level in his career but has run his last six races in triple digit figures. His last out was with Allowance 37.5K runners and was on the dirt in which he ran a career best 112. Furthermore his early running style and distance saving trip might give him a leg up here.
2. CHALLENGE THIS (11-1)
Jockey: S S Ledwith
Trainer: jbcri08
The best win on his resume came in the Many Come Turf Route back in May of 2017. He’s tried his luck with graded company a couple of times but has come up short on both occasions, but he might have a legit shot in this field as he tends to do his best running at 8 furlongs or shorter.
3. YANKIEE CASINO (11-1)
Jockey: L Buchta
Trainer: yankeethunder
One of five Yankee horses in here, he’s got 11 wins in his career but 9 of them came in hot races. He’s had some recent success running with local company but based on the speed figs he’d need a big jump up to be competitive here.
4.FURIOUS YANKEE (8-1)
Jockey: O Ridenour
Trainer: lastpharaoh
He’s a lightly raced 4 year old who’s crushed the competition winning seven of eight races. His lone loss came at Allowance 48K’s back in March of 2017, but since then he’s won five straight including the Halil Mutlu Turf Dash & the Calibus Turf Sprint. There is a minor question on whether or not he’ll want the distance as the furthest he’s run is 7.5 Furlongs.
5. YANKEE WORKMAN (15-1)
Jockey: O Parker
Trainer: yankeebest
He didn’t’ really finish off last year all that well as he was beaten by a sound 15 lengths going 10 furlongs in the Hollywood Halo Turf Stakes but ’s won at and around today’s distance consistently and has only finished out of the money twice in his career. It also helps that he’s a multiple stakes winner as he took down the Shy F. Turf Challenge back in February of 2017 as a 3 year old and the Unbridled Group Turf Juvenile in November of 2016 as a 2 year old.
6. HIJINX TED (5-1)
Jockey: M Isdell
Trainer: hijackedii
Recently, he ran back to back 113’s in a 67.5K Allowance where he finished 2nd and came away with a win in the Third Offer Turf Mile Stakes. It also helps that he’s somewhat of a specialist at this distance running 13 times with 5 victories and 8 ITM appearances. He’s versatile enough to set the pace or sit off the leaders and strike in the stretch which makes him a contender in here.
7. CHICAGO’S DREAM (12-1)
Jockey: C Noe
Trainer: minegold
He’s coming off a big victory last month in the Her Attack Turf Mile Stakes where he ran his best figure (113). In his last five races he hasn’t finished worse then 3rd and also hasn’t lost by more then 2 lengths. He’s proved he’s got enough late kick to get up for a win at 8 furlongs but whether he’s a factor or not will be determined on how well Noe times his move.
8. YANKEE PRODUCER (89-1)
Jockey: A Cap
Trainer: yankeeparty
Definitely a nice price on a horse who has seemingly done nothing wrong since making the switch to turf back in May of 2017. He closed out his 2 year old season with a victory in the Rainbow Moonshell Turf Juvenile and opened his 3 year old season up with a close second place finish in the Tricky Flute Turf Mile. He’s running against older horses for the first time in his career and his speed figs aren’t quite at the same level as his rivals, but he’s young and there’s lots of opportunity for him to improve here.
9. YANKEE UNION (83-1)
Jockey: K Bowen
Trainer: yankeeway
He has a similar story as stablemate YANKEE PRODUCER as he ended his 2-year old season with a victory in the Land of Light Turf Juvenile and came back to start his 3-year old season off with a win at the Lyphinsky Turf Challenge. He also hasn’t finished worse then 2nd since making the switch to turf. The downside on him is he’s yet to break the triple digit speed barrier, but that can definitely change this Saturday.
10. PAZZI (6-1)
Jockey: J Caves
Trainer: galicia
This guy has been a monster on the turf with 12 victories in 16 starts. He got a shot at stakes company back in March of 2017 where he finished 6th by 5 lengths which is the only race of his career in which he finished out of the money. In his last out he routed for the first time and blew the field away with an impressive 118 speed fig. He’s definitely a force to be reckoned with.
11. THREEBYFIVEBYFIVE (17-1)
Jockey: A Blackmore
Trainer: mgprice
He’s a talented 5-year old who’s run back to back triple digit speed figs in his last two. I’m not sure he fits here as most of his success has come at much longer than 8 furlongs. That being said he’ll probably be moving late so there is a possibility he can pick up the pieces if we get a pace breakdown.
12. CATNIP CONNECTION (9/2)
Jockey: W Case
Trainer: luckydj
It wouldn’t be a graded turf stakes without progeny from KITTEN’S JOY, and this guy seems to be just as capable as the best who share his bloodlines. He hasn’t run less than a triple digit speed fig since June of 2017 which gives us all indication that he should be competitive here. My only hang up on him is he most recently ran a 118. The last time he did that was four back and he bounced significantly the following race.
13. THE PONTIFEX (6-1)
Jockey: V Gardner
Trainer: pitboss
He probably has the best resume in here as he’s the only horse in this field to have a stakes victory and placed in a graded stakes race. Distance is most certainly a question for him as most of his success has come at longer. He’s run today’s distance twice in his career and came up short both times missing the board. He’s a horse that pretty much wants the lead from the get go and my fear is that he might get spent early trying to get it.
14. ROCK HARD NINE (44-1)
Jockey: S Cadigan
Trainer: jerseycoast
This is a bold move as this guy hasn’t made a turf appearance since 2015 and has never run the distance. Now 5 years old his last stakes appearance was as a 2 year old and he hasn’t really ran with the likes of these recently. I’d expect him to be fighting with THE PONTIFEX for the early lead on the outside but I just don’t think he wants to go a mile.
AND NOW ITS TIME FOR THE “COLUMNIST’S KISS OF DEATH”
1. #10 PAZZI (6-1) – He could take a step back, but even if he does I think that may still be enough for him to beat these.
2. #7 CHICAGO’S DREAM (12-1) – With almost all of the speed to his outside this race seems like its setting up to favor his running style.
3. #6 HIJINX TED (5-1) – I had a difficult time picking a third horse. My worry is that he’s going to bounce off back to back 113’s but on the chance he improves off them I didn’t want to get caught with my pants down.
Good luck to all running!
Thanks for the preview and kiss of death….. Just so happened that the Dream turned into a nightmare. LOL