By Brian DiDonato
Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency
8th-SA, $57K, Alw/OC ($80K), 3yo, f, 7f, post time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Flor de la Mar (Tiznow) lived up to advanced billing to earn the 'TDN Rising Star' nod for a facile five-length debut score Jan. 20, and the Godolphin and Bob Baffert representative will look to build on the significant hype she's already garnered while facing winners for the first time here. The $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling and daughter of GSW Sacristy (Pulpit) has gotten rave reviews for her efforts in the morning since her unveiling (click for XBTV video), which include a 1:01 3/5 breeze in company with stablemate Qahira (Cairo Prince&log=">Cairo Prince) Feb. 13 in which she finished about a length in front of that runner while galloping out miles in front of her past the wire. Qahira, a 'Rising Star' in her own right and $375,000 OBS June buy by the Chu family's Baoma Corporation, is also entered here. She romped by 4 3/4 lengths first out at Del Mar Nov. 25 and earned a strong 87 Beyer Speed Figure, but was a dull fifth at 30 cents on the dollar when stretched to a mile here Jan. 11. TJCIS PPs
Pricey POTN Filly Debuts on Stakes-Laden GP Card
9th-GP, $50K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1 1/16mT, post time: 3:30 p.m. ET
With nine graded stakes on the agenda, Gulfstream's Saturday card really didn't need any more added intrigue, but this event features a number of well-pedigreed sophomore filly maidens. StarLadies Racing's Prosperite (Pioneerof the Nile)shows an upbeat tab over the Palm Beach Downs turf for her debut for the Todd Pletcher barn. The fifth-priciest member of her sire's crop to sell as a yearling when she brought $700,000 at KEESEP '17, the bay is out of MGSP Woodford Belle (Arch) and hails from the female family of G1 Dubai World Cup winner Well Armed (Tiznow). Patricia Moseley homebred Choate Bridge (Street Sense&log=">Street Sense) is also out of an Arch mare in stakes-placed Archstone, making her a half-sister to none other than these connections' MGSW/GISP 'TDN Rising Star' Proctor's Ledge (Ghostzapper). The bay has been off since rallying from a mile back to be third first out at Saratoga back in August, but she must overcome the 13 hole to earn her diploma this time. Newcomer Champagne Diet (Declaration of War) is granddaughter of MGISW Memories of Silver (Silver Hawk) and a half to 'Rising Star' Hawkish (Artie Schiller), who was a very green but impressive debut winner here last January before eventually adding the GII Penn Mile; Tynagh Spirit (Candy Ride {Arg}), a daughter of SW/GISP Cash for Clunkers (Tiznow), was a $275,000 KEESEP yearling but cost just $32,000 as an unraced 2-year-old at last year's Keeneland November sale; San Saria (Ire) (Australia {GB}) is out of a British Group 3 winner. TJCIS PPs
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