Trainer Michael Yates can't think of a more fitting way to honor the memory of Gilbert Campbell than to saddle Cajun's Magic for a victory in the $400,000 In Reality Division of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association Stakes at Gulfstream Park Sept. 25.
"We'd love to win it in his honor, that's for sure," Yates said.
Campbell, the prominent Florida breeder/owner who died Sept. 16 at the age of 91, and his widow, Marilyn, have had a long, long history of success in the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes, having been represented by 16 race winners in the lucrative series for juveniles sired by accredited Florida stallions.
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Cajun's Magic, a homebred son of Cajun Breeze who campaigns for the Campbells' Stonehedge racing stable, kicked off the 2021 FSS series with a victory over Dean Delivers, his Stonehedge stablemate, in the $100,000 Dr. Fager at Gulfstream July 31 to give his highly respected and influential owners/breeders No. 16 in the series.
"He's gutsy; he's a trier; he's a game horse," Yates said. "He's a very nice, solid horse."
Subsequently running in the $200,000 Affirmed, the seven-furlong second leg of the FTBOA series, Cajun's Magic made a three-wide drive into contention but had to settle for a second-place finish, 3 1/4 lengths behind pacesetter Octane.
Cajun's Magic will face the two-turn test Saturday in the 1 1/16-mile In Reality, which will co-headline Saturday's Gulfstream Park program with the $400,000 My Dear Girl Division, the 1 1/16-mile FTBOA finale for fillies.
Jesus Rios has the call aboard Cajun's Magic, who will try to turn the tables on Arindel's homebred Octane.
The Affirmed victor will seek his third straight victory following a second-place finish in his June 18 debut at five furlongs. The son of Brethren , trained by Carlos David, did everything right in the Affirmed, in which he broke alertly from his rail post position to lead the way throughout the seven-furlong sprint.
"He came out of that race in really good shape," David said. "He had to run his eyeballs out in that race. I gave him four days of walking. He's been able to have two breezes with no problems. So far, so good."
Octane is expected to once again be a forward factor as he attempts to carry his speed around two turns in the In Reality.
Emisael Jaramillo has the return mount aboard Octane.
Arindel has also entered homebreds The Skipper Too, Clapton, and Globes, all Juan Alvarado-trained sons of Brethren.
Also entered are Big and Classy, Cattin, Gold Special, One More Score, and Fivefive Six Champ.
Meanwhile, Outfoxed looms a heavy favorite in the My Dear Girl for 2-year-old fillies. The Bill Mott-trained filly crossed the finish line 13 1/2 lengths clear of her competition in her FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series debut Aug. 28 at Gulfstream when racing in the seven-furlong Susan's Girl division.
That victory followed a third-place finish in a Saratoga Race Course maiden race behind Echo Zulu, eventual winner of the Spinaway Stakes (G1) in her next start.
"We liked her first race at Saratoga," Hall of Fame trainer Mott said. "Even though she didn't win, she closed well."
Edgard Zayas has the return ride from the inside post on Outfoxed, a LNJ Foxwoods-owned daughter of Valiant Minister .
My Sassenach, Chacalosa, Devilette, Cajun Cousin, Veiled Prophet, Sequin Lady, and Arindel'sBaby Blue round out the lineup.
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, September 25, 2021, Race 11Entries: FTBOA Florida Sire In Reality S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Clapton (FL) Chantal Sutherland 118 Juan Alvarado 15/1 2 2Cajun's Magic (FL) Jesus M. Rios 122 Michael Yates 5/2 3 3The Skipper Too (FL) Cristian A. Torres 118 Juan Alvarado 10/1 4 4Globes (FL) Marcos Meneses 118 Juan Alvarado 15/1 5 5Big and Classy (FL) Samy Camacho 118 David Fawkes 6/1 6 6One More Score (FL) Edwin Gonzalez 118 Fernando Abreu 8/1 7 7Octane (FL) Emisael Jaramillo 122 Carlos A. David 2/1 8 8Fivefive Six Champ (FL) Miguel Angel Vasquez 118 J. David Braddy 20/1 9 9Cattin (FL) Edgard J. Zayas 118 Ralph E. Nicks 8/1 10 10Gold Special (FL) Jonathan J. Gonzales 118 Angel M. Rodriguez 20/1
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, September 25, 2021, Race 9Entries: FTBOA Florida Sire My Dear Girl S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Outfoxed (FL) Edgard J. Zayas 122 William I. Mott 4/5 2 2Veiled Prophet (FL) Luca Panici 118 Roger Laurin 20/1 3 3Devilette (FL) Cristian A. Torres 118 Daniel Pita 5/1 4 4Baby Blue (FL) Samy Camacho 118 Juan Alvarado 30/1 5 5Cajun Cousin (FL) Jesus M. Rios 118 Michael Yates 20/1 6 6Sequin Lady (FL) Edwin Gonzalez 118 Kelsey Danner 15/1 7 7Chacalosa (FL) Emisael Jaramillo 122 Larry Rivelli 4/1 8 8My Sassenach (FL) Miguel Angel Vasquez 122 J. David Braddy 6/1
