Hot Rod Honey Looks to Get Back on Track in Juvenile Fillies Sprint

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Troy Johnson, Wendell Yates and Roland Fritts’ Hot Rod Honey, a most impressive winner of her first two races before tasting defeat in her most recent start, will seek to get back on track in Saturday’s $75,000 Juvenile Fillies Sprint at Gulfstream Park.

The Florida-bred filly stalked the pace before drawing clear by 1 1/4 lengths to graduate at first asking in a five-furlong maiden special weight for state-breds June 5. She came right back to dominate open company in the 5 1/2-furlong Sharp Susan by 4 1/4 lengths after stalking the pace.

Hot Rod Honey’s early success hardly came as a surprise to trainer Carlos David, who was taken by her talent and precocious behavior as she was being prepared for her June 5 debut at Gulfstream.

“I always thought she was training really, really good. She stood apart from the other horses,” David said. “She’s not really big, but she’s fast and easy to train. She’s a really good addition to the barn.”

Hot Rod Honey would experience defeat for the first time in the six-furlong Scandalous Act for Florida-breds Aug.8, finishing third behind multiple-stakes winner Liberty Rings after getting caught in traffic and then forced five wide.

“My filly was beginning to show a little fatigue after her first two starts,” David said. “After the last race, we sent her to the farm for a bit to give her a little break and get her ready for the Championship Meet.”

Samy Camacho, who was aboard for the daughter of red-hot first-year stallion Roadster’s winning debut, has the call Saturday. Hot Rod Honey is priced at 5-1 on the morning line.

Trainer Jose D’Angelo, who enters the weekend with a one-win lead over Saffie Joseph Jr.in the Sunshine Meet standings, has entered a pair of fillies in the Juvenile Fillies Sprint with an eye on their futures.

Sabby Racing LLC, Jeremy Peskoff and Peter Yan’s Classic Genes has been installed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite in a field of eight fillies on the strength of a going-away win in a six-furlong maiden optional claiming race Oct. 23 at Gulfstream. The daughter of Classic Empire, who debuted with a non-threatening second at 5 1/2-furlongs, chased the pacesetters before taking over in the stretch and drawing clear by six lengths.

“She needs distance. We don’t have any races at a mile coming up, and she’s doing very good. So that’s why we’re taking a shot,” D’Angelo said. “She’s always improving. She’s very professional with a good mind. I’m very happy with her.”

Soldi Stable LLC and Ohana Racing LLC’s Army Salute a two-time winner at five furlongs on Tapeta, is scheduled to make her first start on dirt Saturday.

“She’s always trained very good on dirt,” D’Angelo said. “We have to see her on the dirt Saturday to see how talented she can be in the future.”

Sunshine Meet’s leading jockey Leonel Reyes has the return mount on Classic Genes, while Paco Lopez has the call on Army Salute, who is priced at 6-1 on the morning line.

Trainer Antonio Sano will also be represented by a pair of last-out winners – Gelfenstein Farm LLC’s Lady of City and Guarnieri Ventures LLC’s Tutto Passa.

Lady of City, a daughter of City of Light, won at first asking, closing from far back to draw off to win by 2 1/4 lengths in her Oct. 3 debut at 38-1. The Kentucky-bred filly’s upset score may have come as a shock to most Gulfstream bettors but not her trainer.

“The filly worked good every time,” Sano said. “She didn’t surprise.”

Lady of City has produced a strong series of workouts in preparation for her return, including a ‘bullet’ breeze Oct. 24 and a five-furlong workout in 1:00.78 that ranked third fastest of 20 on Gulfstream’s work tab last Saturday.

“She has worked good every week for his race,” Sano said.

Tutto Passa, a daughter of Volatile, brings more experience into the Juvenile Fillies Sprint than her stablemate but may not be as suited to the five-furlong distance. She also won on debut, griding out a 1 1/2-length victory in a 5 1/2-furlong $25,000 maiden claiming race Aug. 9. A distant second to promising filly Rosie’s Roadster in a Sept, 6 optional claiming allowance at the 5 1/2-furlong distance, she got up in time to capture a six-furlong optional claiming allowance by a neck Oct.18.

“She is also working good,” Sano said. “[But] this filly needs more distance … one more furlong.”

Marcos Meneses has the return mount on Lady of City, who is rated third at 9-2 on the morning line. Jesus Rios has the call.

Summer Wind Equine LLC’s Sottish Lass, who captured her Sept. 19 debut by 1 3/4 lengths going six furlongs, is rated second at 7-2 on the morning line for her stakes debut. Micah Husbands has the mount on the Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained daughter of McKinzie, who graduated at even-money.

M and M Racing Stable LLC and Ricardo Vallejo’s Early Spark will be equipped with blinkers for the first time after falling just short of holding off Tutto Passa last time out. Diego Herrera is named to ride the Armando De La Cerda-trained daughter of Early Voting.

Trainer Heather Smullen’s Shelby Coupe, another daughter of Roadster, is slated to make her stakes debut after graduating at six furlongs last time out. Heriberto Figueroa has the mount.