Arindel’s promising homebred Boots is set to make her eagerly awaited return to the races when she lines up in Friday’s $100,000 Sharp Susan Stakes at Gulfstream Park. After making an immediate impression with a commanding debut success earlier this spring, the juvenile filly now steps into stakes company as connections look to resume a campaign that was briefly interrupted by illness.
Sharp Susan Stakes 2026.
The 5½-furlong dirt contest for two-year-old fillies forms one of the feature events on Friday’s programme at Gulfstream Park, attracting a competitive field of eight youngsters, several of whom arrive unbeaten after winning on debut.
Trainer Carlos David will saddle Boots for the first time after she was transferred to his stable following her maiden success. The daughter of Brethren produced an eye-catching performance over 4½ furlongs at Gulfstream on April 16, pressing the early pace before drawing clear to score by 3½ lengths under Samy Camacho.
Plans had originally been made for Boots to contest the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies in May, with the aim of securing a place at Royal Ascot. Those ambitions were put on hold when the filly became unwell.
David said the setback is firmly behind her.
“She got a little sick. I had her in the turf races here, but I had to scratch her because she got ill,” he explained. “But she’s recovered fully and is doing really, really well.”
Boots has been assigned a morning-line quote of 7-2 for the Sharp Susan Stakes, where she faces seven rivals in what promises to be a closely matched renewal.
David also sends out Hot Rod Honey, another filly arriving with an unbeaten record. The daughter of first-crop sire Roadster made a favourable impression when winning a five-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream on June 5 after travelling strongly before asserting late.
“I’m excited about both fillies,” David said.
“When she came to us, she came ready to breeze, ready to get going. She is a small filly. She’s not very big, but she has it in her. I wasn’t surprised when she won. I liked the way she won – off the pace a little bit.”
Hot Rod Honey has drawn the inside gate and is rated the 3-1 second choice on the morning line, with Leonel Reyes taking the ride.
Favourite for the Sharp Susan Stakes is Elegante Miz, who has been installed at 5-2 following a determined debut success over Tapeta at Gulfstream in early June.
Prepared by Patrick Biancone, the daughter of Golden Pal overcame an awkward beginning before launching a wide rally around the turn to edge home by a neck. Although she drifted out under pressure, her trainer believes there is plenty more improvement to come.
“She’s a good filly. She’ll be an even better filly when she doesn’t drift out off the turn,” Biancone said.
Elegante Miz has since recorded encouraging workouts on dirt at Palm Meadows ahead of her first start on the main track. Blinkers will also be fitted for the first time in an effort to sharpen her concentration.
“The other day she was really green. I don’t like to put blinkers on the first time, but I think she was looking around too much. It’s just to get a bit more focus,” Biancone added.
Kentucky-based jockey Keith Asmussen keeps the partnership with the favourite.
Another runner attracting attention is Candy Cole, a daughter of Twirling Candy making her racecourse debut. Purchased for $115,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, she has posted several encouraging workouts at Gulfstream and is rated at 4-1 despite her lack of racing experience. Yolber Torres has been booked to ride.
The remainder of the Sharp Susan Stakes field includes Melody Queen, who secured a convincing maiden success at the third attempt, Colombina, an unbeaten state-bred winner, Privateinformation, runner-up behind Hot Rod Honey on her latest appearance, and Lamdara, who shaped with promise when finishing third on debut.
With several exciting juvenile fillies still early in their development, Friday’s contest has the look of an informative race that could identify some of Gulfstream Park’s leading two-year-old prospects for the months ahead.
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