BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Although 16 Florida-breds have won Gulfstream Park’s Appleton, it has been nine years since Reporting Star took the one-mile contest on turf in 2016. Florida-breds Seminole Chief and Brawn look to snap that trend Saturday when they take on nine other 4-year-olds and older in the $165,000 contest. The 2025 Appleton presented by MyRaceHorse includes $15,000 in Florida-bred bonus money presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners Association.
Seminole Chief tries for his second consecutive triumph after taking a second level, $62,500 optional claiming going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the turf at Gulfstream on March 1. Trained by Jack Sisterson and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Seminole Chief came from mid-pack in the field of 12 to win by three-quarters of a length.
That was the first victory for the lightly-raced 4-year-old since March of last year when he won a first level, $75,000 optional claiming going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on synthetic at Gulfstream. In two starts between, he was fifth going six furlongs in a second level, $62,500 optional claiming in December then third behind winner Atone under the same conditions going a mile on the grass on Jan. 25, both at Gulfstream.
Seminole Chief has won half of his eight career starts with one third with earnings of $324,405 for owners Brad Grady and David Grund. His most notable win came in the 2023 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes In Reality going a mile-and-a-sixteenth at Gulfstream.
He was an $80,000 purchase by HND Bloodstock at the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sales June Sale of 2-year-olds in training where he was consigned by Bobby Dodd. He is out of Secret Song, by Dunkirk and was bred in Florida by Brad and Misty Grady.
(Seminole Chief’s Under Tack Video / Walking Video)
Gaffalione gets the return mount and they will depart from post seven.
Brawn will break from the immediate right of Seminole Chief in post eight with jockey Joseph Trejos.
Trained by Ruben Sierra, who owns and bred the 4-year-old son of Pleasant Acres Stallions’ Neolithic in the name of his Just for Fun Stable Inc., Brawn looks to improve on the his first two races this year, both in first level, $25,000 optional claiming races.
He was fourth, beaten just a length by winner Echo Lane going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on Feb. 1; and sixth last out going a mile on the grass.
Out of Kandhara, by Indian Charlie, Brawn has won two with two seconds in 15 starts with earnings of $133,583.
Also entered are Axthelm with Frankie Dettori named to ride, Fly the W with Javier Castelllano aboard, Doctor Jeff has Luis Saez taking the call, Portofinio and jockey Paco Lopez, Ruse will be ridden. By Jorge Ruiz, Abrumar will be guided by Edgard Zayas, Major Dude and pilot Irad Oritz Jr., Edwin Gonzalez will be aboard Skyro and Ice Chocolate (Brz) will have Joel Rosario in the irons.
Return to the March 26 issue of Wire to Wire
