The Lead:
Florida's top 2-year-olds ring in the Championship Meet at Gulfstream Park with dual headliners Saturday. The series finales of the Florida Sire Stakes for 2025 share the spotlight, the $300K My Dear Girl in Race 5 for the fillies and the $300K In Reality in Race 10 for the colts & geldings.

Horseplayers at Xpressbet and 1/ST BET can take advantage of the FSS series finales 2 ways. Both the My Dear Girl (Race 5) and In Reality (Race 10) will offer up to a $10 money-back special. Get your money back if your win bet finishes second or third. Also, both races are part of our Turkey Bowl holiday week bonanza. Customers who hit win bets ($10 base minimum or higher) on a minimum of 10 different selected stakes races between Thursday and Sunday will earn an equal split of $10,000 in bonus cash.

​​Field Depth:
KHOZALITE is the only stakes winner in the field to date. CAMIGOL is graded stakes-placed, while STRATEGIC RISK, SQUIRE and TRELAWNY are listed stakes-placed. That cluster of runners have held the strongest company lines to date, but class handicapping is always highly judgmental with inexperienced juveniles.
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Pace:
The 1-1/16 miles distance provides a new challenge for all but 1 of these, so the tempo will be important while rationing sprint speed. Early pace should come from the inside trio of KHOZALITE, PROST and ROGER THAT DANA, who are advantaged with inner-draws given the short run to the clubhouse turn.

Our Eyes:
Here are my horse-by-horse notes.

#1-KHOZALITE (pictured, courtesy Gulfstream): Lukewarm 7-2 favorite ran like a 7-5 shot in the Florida Sire Stakes Affirmed on October 18, drawing off by 4 lengths over 7 furlongs. Solid-enough 88 BRIS late pace figure given his running style in the Affirmed, and note he's already won around 2 turns in a turf mile in August. No real knocks, but note that regular rider Leonel Reyes is sidelined with a broken ankle and Edgard Zayas takes the call for the first time.

#2-PROST: Romping, 9-length debut winner gives trainer Jose D'Angelo the first 2 in the starting gate Saturday (along with Khozalite) and maybe the first 2 across the wire. Miguel Vazquez has the return call on the 7-furlong winner who widened with every stride and earned an excellent 89 BRIS late pace figure for a pacemaker.

#3-ROGER THAT DANA: 3-length debut winner was never headed Oct. 25 when bet to 5-2 favoritism. Trainer Luis Ramirez had a ready-made 2YO who cost $85K at Ocala despite his $4K sire Awesome Slew. Jockey Jonathan Ocasio hops saddles, however, to FSS Affirmed runner-up Squire and leaves this mount to Marcos Meneses.

#4-HAWK: Maiden through 3 starts, this one was a flat-late fourth in the FSS Affirmed. Trainer Carlos David put another start into him since that Oct. 18 stakes, dropping back to the maiden ranks, when a disappointing second at even-money. Seemed to regress in that one and there's no obvious element of improvement expected. Joe Bravo picks up the mount for the first time.

#5-STRATEGIC RISK: FSS Affirmed third-place finisher had no real excuse last out sprinting, but could be the candidate to improve most on Saturday. May be best-equipped in terms of pedigree for the stretch-out in distance, and is the only runner in the field to try 1-1/16 miles, albeit a tired sixth on turf at Saratoga vs. stronger competition. Mark Casse turns to Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano for the first time.

#6-CAMIGOL: FSS series veteran was runner-up in the Dr. Fager in September before the wheels came off in October's Affirmed, where he was eased to the wire and walked off. Trainer Antonio Sano had him right back on the workout tab 14 days after and he's worked on cue 4 times since. The distance could suit if he's beyond the mysterious performance last out. Difficult read.

#7-SQUIRE: Another veteran of the FSS Dr. Fager (fifth) and Affirmed (second), this April debut winner has been dancing all the stakes dances locally. Patrick Biancone trainee owns a couple of runners-up and couple of fifth-place finishes at the stakes level. While sire Leinster best known as a sprinter, this one's even running style is often successful around 2 turns. Pretty consistent late pace figures as well. Not illogical for a potential piece again.

#8-GOLD MINER: First-time starter for Riley Mott makes an auspicious appearance for $300K. Churchill-based colt by St. Patrick's Day hasn't been flashy on the workout tab. Mott scores just 7% with rookies. The last 2YO debut stakes winner at 1-1/16 miles I can find in the Betmix database came in 2016 at Woodbine. Make him prove it.

#9-SUPREME HONOR: Longshot, 4-race maiden has been well-beaten in his last pair. Trailed Khozalite by 14 lengths when they matched up in August in a 2-turn mile. No thanks.

#10-THE TOWN: Keeneland debut runner-up rallied from the clouds as the 2-1 favorite and finished second-best to an even-stronger closer. Ready-made type cost $150K at Ocala despite $8,500 sire Win Win Win. Field-best 92 BRIS late pace figure in debut effort for a Brad Cox barn not frequent to the FSS series. Sent straight to Payson Park after the Keeneland runner-up with an eye on this and the Championship Meet. Jockey Emisael Jaramillo picks up the mount as debut pilot Irad Ortiz Jr. rides a stakes-heavy Churchill Downs card on Saturday. Factor, but must overcome difficult post, and the video study of the debut not quite as impressive as the running lines suggest.

#11-TRELAWNY: Blinkers come off local stakes campaigner who was fourth in the Proud Man and then third in the FSS Dr. Fager and fifth in the FSS Affirmed. Regular pilot Jose Morelos must work out a trip from the far outside post, and this one's midpack style indicates a wide trip almost assured. Tough to back off last and the draw.

Most Likely Exotics Contender:
KHOZALITE is proven over the track, the class level and around 2 turns. Hard to see him giving away his inside advantage and not being in the mix Saturday.

Best Longshot Contender:
STRATEGIC RISK has a chance to turn the tables with additional distance. Consider him for a share if not convinced he can upset the entire cast.

Sending it in ($100 bankroll):
$40 exacta part-wheel KHOZALITE with PROST and ROGER THAT DANA ($80). $20 exacta KHOZALITE over STRATEGIC RISK.