Florida Sires Stakes Finals: Can Favorites Hold Strong?
The Florida Sires series has always produced exciting finals, boasting strong favorites who often fall victim to unexpected upsetters. This year, the trend continues, with two standout contenders ready to face challenging fields in the My Dear Girl and In Reality Stakes.
## My Dear Girl Stakes (Race 6)
Brad Cox has expertly chosen his spot for Stunner (3-5), siding with the Florida-bred filly for her two-turn debut in this race limited to state-breds.
Showing steady improvement with each outing, Stunner powerfully closed going a mile at Aqueduct in her last race. Starting from the rail adds to her advantage.
Others to watch in the My Dear Girl Stakes include R Morning Brew (7-2) and Win N Your In (7-2), both offering compelling chances in this competitive field. “Kip the Distance” (20-1) faces a significant challenge as the underdog.
## In Reality Stakes (Race 10)
Like Stunner, Rated By Merit (3-5) possesses a pedigree that doesn’t necessarily scream distance, yet this talented colt has consistently delivered strong sprint times while finishing races with energy to spare.
His impressive ability to conserve energy throughout his races suggests he’s well-suited for longer distances. Latch the Hatch (12-1) and Classic Of Course (8-1) pose the most significant threats to Rated By Merit, while Run of the Beast (20-1) and Oleg (15-1) offer longer-shot possibilities in this race.
The My Dear Girl and In Reality Stakes promise thrilling races with favored contenders poised to dominate, but reputations will be tested as challengers seek to pull off upsets.
What are the NIOSlions’ strengths and weaknesses as a team?
NIOSlions
Welcome back to the show. Let’s talk Florida Sires Stakes.
We’ve got two big races coming up, the My Dear Girl and the In Reality Stakes. Both have heavy favorites, Stunner in the My Dear Girl, and Rated by Merit in the In Reality Stake.
Lots of eyes are on these two horses. What do you think about their chances? Do you think they can live up to the hype and pull away from the field, or are we in for some upsets? [[1](https://www.drf.com/news/rated-merit-stunner-heavy-favorites-florida-sire-series-finales)]
Are these races too close to call, or will it be a dominant win for the favorites? Let us know what you think.
