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Bluebirds Over, Honor D Lady Pointed to Turf Stakes

Trainer Antonio Sano said Simplification runs in the Dec. 31 Harlan's Holiday (G3).

Bluebirds Over wins the Grey Stakes at Woodbine

Bluebirds Over wins the Grey Stakes at Woodbine

Woodbine/Michael Burns Photo

Edward Seltzer and Beverly Anderson's Bluebirds Over and Madaket Stables and James Matthew Thompson's Honor D Lady will be pointed to 3-year-old turf stakes during the upcoming Championship Meet at Gulfstream Park following the promising stakes performances over Woodbine's Tapeta synthetic track Nov. 26.

Bluebirds Over, a son of English Channel, rated just off the pace before drawing away to a 1 1/2-length victory in the CA$150,000 Grey Stakes (G3) for juveniles for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

"He's grass. He's won on Tapeta, but he has a turf pedigree," Joseph said.

The major stakes for 3-year-olds on turf at Gulfstream Park this winter include the $125,000 Dania Beach Stakes Jan. 7, the $175,000 Kitten's Joy Stakes (G3T) Feb. 4, and the $200,000 Palm Beach Stakes March 4.

Honor D Lady, a daughter of Honor Code who ran third in the $150,000 Mazarine Stakes (G3), will "follow the (turf) series for fillies," Joseph said. "Eventually, she might go back on dirt once because she's a useful filly."

The major turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies include the $125,000 Ginger Brew Stakes Jan. 7, $175,000 Sweetest Chant Stakes (G3T) Feb. 4, and the $200,000 Herecomesthebride Stakes (G3T) March 4.

Joseph's immediate plans for recent impressive debut winner Mr. Ripple hit a temporary roadblock.

"He was entered (Nov. 27), but we scratched him. We were going to go to the Remsen (G2), but he ended up spiking a temp, so he ended up missing both of them," Joseph said. "He'll come back in an allowance here, and if it's not too late, he'll go to the Holy Bull."

The $250,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G3), scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 4, is the first major prep for the $1 million, 1 1/8-mile Curlin Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream April 1.

Legacy Racing's Mr. Ripple, a son of Dialed In , rolled to a 9 1/4-length debut victory when racing a mile at Gulfstream Oct. 15.

Sano Looking Ahead to Harlan's Holiday

Trainer Antonio Sano is optimistic about the winter season, and a big part of it could be Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) winner Simplification .

Owned by Tami Bobo and Tristan De Meric, Simplification was back on the work tab Nov. 26 for the first time since finishing seventh Nov. 5 in the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). The 3-year-old son of Not This Time , third in the Florida Derby and fourth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), is doing well, Sano said, and is being trained for a winter campaign at Gulfstream.

"He worked well, and the plan is to go (Dec. 31) in the Harlan's Holiday (G3)," said Sano, referring to the 1 1/16-mile event that has been used as a prep for the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Jan. 28. "He came out of the Breeders' Cup perfect. I was happy with the way he ran. We're going to see what happens in the Harlan's Holiday, and after December we will think about Pegasus."

This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.