BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Juvenile colts will go postward in South Florida for the first time this year Friday in a $70,000 maiden special weight led by Florida-bred Vito’s Wildcat, the 9-5 morning line favorite for trainer David Fawkes. The four-and-a-half-furlong contest for 2-year-olds has attracted 13 entries, including nine Florida-breds and three on the also eligible list.

Owned by Monarch Stables Inc., Vito’s Wildcat enters Friday’s test having last worked at Gulfstream Park on April 12, breezing four furlongs from the gate in :47.93, the ninth fastest of 79 moves at the distance that morning.

Vito’s Wildcat is by Greenpointcrusader out of the Florida-bred mare Joann’s Wildcat, by Wildcat Heir and was bred in Florida by Frank Bertolino. Joann’s Wildcat has produced six starters, four of which are winners, including Flipping Fish, by Uncaptured, an earner of $297,040.

Paco Lopez will ride Vito’s Wildcat from post two.

Florida-bred Squire is second on the morning line at 7-2 and will race in the colors of Amy E. Dunne and trainer Patrick Biancone. 

Squire has been impressive in several morning appearances at Palm Meadows training center, including a bullet three furlongs from the gate in :35.90 on March 30, the fastest of 30 works that morning at the distance. The chestnut son of Pleasant Acres Stallions’ freshman sire Leinster has since worked four furlongs in :48.35 on April 6, the second fastest of 24, and three furlongs from the gate in :36.35 on April 12, the seventh fastest among 33 works that morning.

Bred in Florida by Amy and Ciaran Dunne, Squire is out of Saudi Chroma, by Lucky Pulpit and is a half-brother to multiple stakes-placed Florida-bred Fun Money, by Mrazek. In 2022, Fun Money was third in both the $126,000 Generous Portions at Del Mar and the $175,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita.

Squire will have Joe Bravo aboard when he breaks from post nine.

Trainer Jose D’Angelo will saddle Jalapeno, an Arindel homebred by Ocala Stud’s Adios Charlie out of the multiple stakes-placed Florida-bred mare Awesome Mass, by Arindel stallion Brethren. An earner of $182,070, Awesome Mass was second in the 2017 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Desert Vixen and third in the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes My Dear Girl.

Jalapeno enters off a three-furlong breeze in :36.05 at Palm Meadows on April 11, the second fastest of 23 works at the distance the distance. The dark bay colt also worked four furlongs in :47.65 on April 4, the fourth fastest of 30 moves that morning.

Jalapeno is 4-1 in the program and will depart post eight with Edgard Zayas aboard.

Rounding out the field are Florida-bred Chance to Party with Jose Morelos named to ride, Luca Panici takes the call on Sleeper Sullivan, Florida-bred Luna Estrella will be guided by Jose Lopez, Beers On Me and jockey Micah Husbands, Street Player with Edgar Perez up, Leonel Reyes will be in the saddle on Florida-bred My Favorite Bird and Florida-bred Triple Stitched will be ridden by Ferley Infante. Florida-breds Housebuster Dude and Bowie; and Sir Lomax are on the list of also eligibles. 

Return to the April 17 issue of Wire to Wire