Three Rules vs. Mo Cash again

It’s a rivalry that began in the summer in a graded stakes, but when Three Rules gets rematched with Mo Cash it will take place within the confines of a Florida-bred restriction.

The standout 3-year-olds will face each other for the second time Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs in the $125,000 Marion County, part of the Florida Sire Stakes series. The Marion County and its seven-furlong twin, the $125,000 City of Ocala for 3-year-old fillies, are the first of four stakes on the 10-race Cotillion Festival Day card at the Oldsmar, Fla., track.

In their first clash, Three Rules needed the length of the Gulfstream Park stretch to edge Mo Cash in the Grade 3 Carry Back on July 1 at Gulfstream Park. Since then, Three Rules has gone unraced by design, while Mo Cash has finished fourth in each of his two starts.

Three Rules can become racing’s newest millionaire by prevailing Saturday as the likely favorite. Last year at 2, the son of Gone Astray swept the more-established Florida Sire events at Gulfstream, winning three races by a combined 22 1/2 lengths to spur talk of the Kentucky Derby. But after fading to fifth in the Florida Derby in April, the colt was diverted to a less-ambitious schedule, resulting in a thirdplace finish in the Chick Lang on the Preakness undercard at Pimlico and a victory in the Carry Back.

Two days after the Carry Back, trainer Jose Pinchin said he intended to give Three Rules a break, and everything has gone according to plan. With 10 workouts at Gulfstream since early October, Three Rules will return with Emisael Jaramillo, breaking from post 4, He faces six others in the Marion County, which is set for race 3 (post 1:23 p.m. Eastern).

Owned by a three-way partnership, Three Rules has earned $939,160 from 11 starts. He showed considerably more speed early in his career, and has become more willing to rate as his career has unfolded. He won the Carry Back after rallying from seventh of 11 starters.

“The one thing my horse proved is that he doesn’t need to be on the lead,” Pinchin said afterward.

Mo Cash (post 1, Antonio Gallardo), based at Gulfstream with trainer Ron Spatz, led all but the final few jumps of the Carry Back. The Adios Charlie gelding stands to benefit from more recency than Three Rules, having last raced Nov. 26 at Gulfstream West.

Both horses could make their next start in the Jan. 20 Sunshine Millions series at Gulfstream.

One race earlier, R Angel Katelyn and Stormy Embrace are among the principals in the City of Ocala (race 2, 12:54), which also drew a field of seven.

R Angel Katelyn (post 6, Gallardo) has been regrouped by trainer Gerald Bennett after being overmatched in the Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks in late September. The daughter of High Cotton has demonstrated quite a liking for the Tampa surface, having won three of four local starts, including triumphs in open company in the Sandpiper and Gasparilla at the 2016-17 meet.

Stormy Embrace, trained by Kathleen O’Connell, has been first or second in seven of 13 starts and stands to get a favorable stalking trip from post 7 under Wilmer Garcia.

Both the City of Ocala and Marion County are among the series of races sponsored by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association. Eligibility is limited to registered Florida-breds or horses sired by a registered Florida stallion.