Crazy Frazy #7 with Carlos Rojas riding edges Global Legend and Joe Bravo to win the $200,000 Sapling Stakes. (Julia Sebastianelli/EQUI-PHOTO)
David Joseph/Maryland Jockey Club
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Lea Farms LLC’s Crazy Frazy looms as a logical favorite for Saturday’s $95,000 Aventura, a one-turn mile stakes for 2-year-olds, at Gulfstream Park.
The son of Blame, who has been installed as the 9-5 morning-line favorite in a field of eight, enters the Aventura off a victory in the Sapling, a two-turn mile stakes at Monmouth Park. The Jorge Delgado trainee has been successful around one turn as well. Crazy Frazy fell a neck short of graduating on debut at the New Jersey track June 2 before breaking his maiden with a front-running victory at five furlongs.
Crazy Frazy didn’t show the same speed while trying the turf for the first time in the Tyro Stakes, a five-furlong dash in which he finished fourth. He rebounded nicely in his return to dirt in the Sapling under Carlos Rojas, who has the return mount for the Aventura.
Amy E Dunne and trainer Patrick Biancone’s Classic of Course brings considerable stakes experience into the Aventura. After graduating on debut at Gulfstream by 6 ½ lengths, the son of Awesome of Course finished fourth at Aqueduct in the Tremont. Back at Gulfstream, Classic of Course came up a neck short while finishing second in the Proud Man Stakes before finishing third behind highly regarded Rated by Merit in the Dr. Fager, the first leg of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series. Rated second at 5-2, Classic of Course will be ridden again by Emisael Jaramillo.
Mr. Pug LLC and JP G Z LLC’s Naughty Rascal returns from his victory in the six-furlong Proud Man, in which he withstood a stretch-long challenge from Classic of Course. The Gerald Bennett trainee graduated at first asking in his previous start. Edwin Gonzalez has the return call aboard the son of Roguish, who is rated third at 7-2.
RRR Racing’s Rafid, who finished fourth on debut in the Proud Man, enters the Aventura off a second-place finish by a half-length in a maiden special weight event. Edgard Zayas has the mount on the Antonio Sano-trained son of Into Mischief.
Palm Beach Racing V LLC’s Legal Maneuver, Chester Bishop and partners’ Enterdadragon, Hernandez Racing Club’s Carambaso, and Gerald James’ Bitter Banker round out the field.
