BY BROCK SHERIDAN
R Morning Brew, winner of the $100,000 Desert Vixen last year in the first leg of the filly division of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes in September, will make her first start of the year Sunday at Gulfstream Park in the $115,000 Any Limit for 3-year-old fillies. The six-furlong test has attracted a field of seven and includes a $15,000 Florida-bred bonus presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Owned by Rich Averill of Bradenton, Fla., who races under the name of his Averill Racing LLC, R Morning Brew won her first two starts as a 2-year-old last year including a four-and-a-half-length score against Florida-bred maiden special weight fillies going six furlongs in the slop on Aug. 9. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., she then took the six-furlong Desert Vixen by five-and-a-half lengths going six furlongs a month later before suffering her first lost when third behind winner Win N Your In in the $200,000 Susan’s Girl, the second leg of the Florida Sire Stakes going seven furlongs on Oct. 19. She finished the year with a fourth-place finish behind winner My Denysse in the $300,000 Florida Sire Stakes My Dear Girl going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on Nov. 30.
By Pleasant Acres Stallions’ Curlin’s Honor, R Morning Brew has earned $129,000 in her four starts—all at Gulfstream. She is out of Foolhearted Woman, by Uncaptured and was bred in Florida by Dori Morgan Hyatt.
Averill purchased the dark bay or brown filly out of last year’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale of 2-year-olds for $30,000 where she was consigned by Rivera Training and Sales.
(R Morning Brew’s Under Tack Video / Walking Video)
Edgard Zayas, who rode her in her first three starts, will ride and they have post five. R Morning Brew is 5-1 on the morning line.
Joseph will also saddle Rojo Rita, the 9-5 morning line favorite, for owner Kamil Ozhan.
In one start last year, the chestnut daughter of Volatile out of D’ya Knowhatimea, by Broken Vow was dynamic in winning a maiden special weight for fillies by 16 ¼ lengths at Gulfstream in November. She makes her second start this year in the Any Limit after finishing sixth in the Grade 3 Forward Gal won by Eclatant going seven furlongs at Gulfstream on Feb. 1.
Rojo Rita has earnings of $25,500 and will be ridden from post one by Irad Ortiz Jr.
Rounding out the field are Luvumorgan and jockey Michah J. Husbands, Unchained Elaine with Junior Alvarado aboard, Luis Saez rides Hold Your Breath, Melle Mel will have Javier Castellano in the saddle and Magnolia Pine will be ridden by Paco Lopez.
Return to the March 15 issue of Wire to Wire
