Kroy early favorite in Bear’s Den Stakes

A small field of six will go to post Sunday in the $100,000 Bear’s Den Stakes Sunday at Gulfstream Park. The 7 turf race for 3 year olds is the final race of a 10-race spring and summer stakes series spotlighting Florida-breds sponsored by Gulfstream and the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association.

The early favorite in the Bear’s Den, which is restricted to Florida-breds, is Kroy. At even money in the morning line, the gelding has won his past two races, most recently posting a

win in the Tortugas Stakes at Gulfstream on Aug. 19.

Kroy, who began his racing career this year, is three for seven lifetime with all of his wins coming over the Gulfstream grass.

Regular rider Emisael Jaramillo will be aboard Kroy on Sunday.

General McGooby, at 7-2, has the most impressive win of the field, that coming in the Not Surprising stakes at Gulfstream on July 4. In that mile turf race, General McGooby led from gate to wire, holding off a late charger in Bronson, who was trained by Todd Pletcher, to claim his first stakes win. Ramsey Zimmerman gets the call on General McGooby.

He’s the One has the most experience of any colt or gelding in the Bear’s Den field, having gone to post 17 times in his young career.

At 9-2, He’s the One has one career win to his credit, that coming in a maiden race at Gulfstream on Jan. 21.

His best stakes placing came in the Tortugas as he finished third, two lengths behind Kroy.

Major Key will also be seeking his first career stakes win. The most recent of his three career wins came July 2 in a mile turf race in which Kroy finished third.

Major Key is 5-1 in the morning line. Zipping and Shiny Copper Penny, a maiden, round out the field.

The Bear’s Den is the third race on Sunday’s 10race card with an approximate post time of 2:17 p.m.