TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon

 

Come Here Often?

This Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream has just about everything racing fans could ask for: a massive prize pool, Kentucky Derby qualifying points, and a rematch between two fiery competitors.

Fierceness (8-5) and Hades (7-2), who enter the 1 1/8-mile derby as the top two choices in the opening line, first matched up in last month’s Holy Bull (G3). The former, at 1-5, turned in a rather tame performance, paving the way for Hades to burn the competition for a two-length score at 9-1.

The Holy Bull score extended the 3-year-old gelding’s unbeaten streak to three in as many contests, while the disappointing third from last November’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champion needled his line to 2-0-1 through four starts. 

With bragging rights on the line, the pair find themselves locked into what should be another scorching battle.

 

Anybody’s Game

The second Grade 1 contest scheduled for this Saturday’s slate of stakes, the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1), is Muth-see TV. Headlined by 3-year-old budding star and multiple graded stakes winner Muth, the 1 1/8-mile contest will award Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top five finishers.

At 8-5, Muth holds the slightest advantage over rival Timberlake (9-5), who most recently outdueled 11 other competitors to take the Rebel Stakes (G2) on Feb. 24. The dynamic pair of budding superstars have met once before, squaring off in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 3 at Santa Anita.

Neither lived up to their billing, however. Muth landed in second, 6 ¼-lengths behind Fierceness, and Timberlake couldn’t get it out of neutral to finish in fourth. 

With Fierceness well east of The Mississippi, the duo has a clear path to a head-to-head meeting at the finish line.

 

Remember Me?

This weekend’s seemingly endless supply of rematches continues with a pair of fillies taking to Gulfstream for the second time in 28 days. Fiona’s Magic (6-1) and Into Champagne (5-1) previously ran 1-2 in the Davona (G2) on Mar. 2, and now the young stars are set to meet again on Saturday afternoon for the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2).

Separated by a mere half-length last time out, the 3-year-old’s ran atop the pack from the three-quarter mark on. Despite her best efforts, Into Champagne could not close on Fiona’s Magic, leaving the former to watch from afar as the latter paraded around the winner’s circle.

The Davona score marked the Michael Yates protégé’s first career graded win and third overall through five attempts (3-2-0). Into Champagne, trained by Ian Wilkes, has also yet to miss the board in three starts, going 2-1-0 with a Glitter Woman Stakes victory on Jan. 7.

 

I Got One More in Me

Last time out, Lemon Muffin pulled off the unthinkable to steal the Honeybee (G3) by 3 ½ lengths at 28-1. To do so, the 3-year-old ousted even-money favorite West Omaha, who rallied late for third.

Believe it or not, these two are expected to meet again on Saturday at Oaklawn Park with a shot at the $750,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) on the line. Running once again at the 1 1/16-mile distance, Lemon Muffin (9-2) and West Omaha (4-1) will need to navigate a larger field this time around (12 compared to 10 in the Honeybee).

The $400,000 event’s surprise winner had finished second in four consecutive contests before breaking through. Overall, the Keith Asmussen mount is 1-4-0 in six attempts. West Omaha, on the other hand, is 2-2-1 in five attempts, headlined by a Silverbulletday Stakes win on Jan. 20.

 

Second-Hand Slumps

Finishing things off with a break from the rematch theme, we head to Santa Anita for Sunday’s running of the $100,000 American Stakes (G3T). Here, you will find two graded stakes placed competitors, both in the midst of serious slumps.

Irideo (ARG) is an 8-year-old gelding with a 6-5-0 line through two dozen starts. On the bright side, the Marcelo Polanco trainee won the Clocker’s Corner stakes on Jan. 28. On the not so bright side, that was Irideo’s first win in 14 tries since the Wicker in 2022.

His opponent, Ah Jeez, is a 4-year-old colt sporting a 3-1-4 record through 18 attempts. The Doug O’Neill pupil has not found the winner’s circle in nine straight contests following a stakes win at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai last February. Ah Jeez is trending up lately, however, posting back-to-back thirds in the Thunder Road (G3) and Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1).

It’s only a matter of time… right?