Sire Stakes series finale to test young horses

HALLANDALE — The challenges and rewards for this year’s crop of Florida 2-year-olds peaks Saturday at Gulfstream. The finales of the Florida Sire Stakes require them to run further than any ever has.

The open In Reality Stakes and companion My Dear Girl for fillies each offer a $500,000 purse at the end of a mile and a sixteenth. None of the entrants has run beyond seven furlongs or around two turns on the main track.

While the horses are inexperienced at the distance, trainers of the leading contenders have all been there and done that in the threerace Sire Stakes series, which began during the summer with six- and seven-furlong sprints.

Stanley Gold, who has a record 17 wins in the series, has entered four in the In Reality and a pair in the My Dear Girl. Jose Pinchin, who sent out Hollywell to win two legs of the series in 2014 and It’s High Time to take this season’s Desert Vixen, has one in each division.

David Fawkes, whose Big Drama swept the male division in 2008, has only Tribal Drama in the In Reality, but the son of Big Drama is the one to beat off a perfect twofor-two resume, including the seven-furlong Affirmed.

Gold’s Ballet Diva will likely vie with It’s High Time as favorite in the My Dear Girl. Ballet Diva has won three times in four starts, the only blemish a third behind It’s High Time in the six-furlong Desert Vixen. Ballet Diva reversed that in the seven-furlong Susan’s Girl, in which It’s High Time ran third.

Since the filly who got to the front first won both encounters, there is a danger they could race each other into the ground early. “If I get caught in a speed duel going a mile and a sixteenth, I’ll die,” Pinchin said.

If this happens, the Goldtrained Silent Prayer is a likely beneficiary. She has closed well to run second in each of the earlier Sire Stakes. None of the other six entrants has finished in the money in a stakes. Two have yet to break their maiden.

Gold’s Abercorn appears to be the biggest threat to Tribal Drama in the In Reality. Abercorn’s late rush fell only a neck short in the Affirmed. Fawkes said he expects Abercorn to be coming hard late again but is confident his colt will be up to the challenge.

Brighton Lane, winner of the six furlong Dr. Fager, gives Gold another strong contender. He disappointed with a dull sixth in the Affirmed but as a full brother to Jackson Bend, he should be able to handle the added distance.