The Forward Gal Stakes (USA-G3) is the first graded stakes on Florida’s road to the Longines Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1), but for winner R Harper Rose, it will probably be the last step on that path—not because the filly lacks quality, but because sprinting appears to be her game. The winner of the seven-furlong Susan’s Girl Stakes from last year’s Florida Sire Stakes series for 2-year-olds, R Harper Rose cut back to her favorite trip after falling short in the 8.5 furlong My Dear Girl Stakes in her final race at 2 and had no difficulty making her 2024 debut a winning one, scoring by two lengths over Fiona’s Magic.
Bred in Florida by Sally Andersen, R Harper Rose is a daughter of four-time Florida champion sire Khozan, a Distorted Humor half brother to three-time American champion filly Royal Delta. The winner of both his starts by a total of 16½ lengths before suffering a career-ending injury, Khozan has 15 other stakes winners to his credit including graded winners Background, Foggy Night, and Hot Peppers.
R Harper Rose is the first stakes winner and fourth winner produced from True Bliss, whose sire, Yes It’s True, won the 1999 Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Stakes (USA-G1) and seven other graded sprint stakes before becoming a good speed sire. A half sister to 2012 The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial Stakes (USA-G3) winner Hierro (by Hard Spun) and listed stakes winner Cherokee Triangle (by Cherokee Run), True Bliss is out of 2001 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes (USA-G3) runner-up Brief Bliss. The next dam in R Harper Rose’s tail-female line, Annul, is a winner by 1982 American Horse of the Year Conquistador Cielo out of Lyphard’s winning daughter Bygones, a half sister to 1986 Chevington Stud Rockfel Stakes (ENG-G3) winner Al Risk (by Mr. Prospector). This is a decidedly speed-leaning family and probably a major contributor to making R Harper Rose a promising sprinter rather than a two-turn candidate.
Although R Harper Rose is unlikely to go further along the Lily Lane, runner-up Fiona’s Magic may get another chance after earning 10 Oaks points for her runner-up performance. A Florida-bred daughter of St. Patrick’s Day (a Group 3-placed full brother to 2015 American Triple Crown winner American Pharoah), she tired after carving out an opening half-mile in :45.90 but still hung on well for second, and this after being a bit slow at the break. A half sister to juvenile stakes winner Cajun’s Magic (by Cajun Breeze), she is out of Mollie’s Magic, whose sire, the Storm Cat horse Factum, is a winning half brother to War Front. Mllie’s Magic herself is an unraced half sister to stakes winners Two T’s at Two Bs (by Untuttable), Scandalous Act (by Act of Duty), and Boo Boo Kitty (by Poseidon’s Warrior).
Chi Chi filled out a Florida-bred trifecta in the Forward Gal, earning six points toward an Oaks starting berth, and may have the best pedigree of all for stretching out to the 9 furlongs of the “Lilies for the Fillies.” A daughter of 2018 Florida Derby (USA-G1) winner Audible, she is a half sister to 2022 Fountain of Youth Stakes (USA-G2) winner Simplification, who ran a creditable fourth in that year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (USA-G1), and is from the family of 2004 Oaks winner and American champion 3-year-old filly Ashado, who went on to repeat as an Eclipse winner as a 4-year-old. For both her and Fiona’s Magic, the March 2 Davona Dale Stakes (USA-G2), which offers 50 points toward the Oaks to the winner, may be the logical next step along this year’s Lily Lane.
Bred in Florida by Sally Andersen, R Harper Rose is a daughter of four-time Florida champion sire Khozan, a Distorted Humor half brother to three-time American champion filly Royal Delta. The winner of both his starts by a total of 16½ lengths before suffering a career-ending injury, Khozan has 15 other stakes winners to his credit including graded winners Background, Foggy Night, and Hot Peppers.
R Harper Rose is the first stakes winner and fourth winner produced from True Bliss, whose sire, Yes It’s True, won the 1999 Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Stakes (USA-G1) and seven other graded sprint stakes before becoming a good speed sire. A half sister to 2012 The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial Stakes (USA-G3) winner Hierro (by Hard Spun) and listed stakes winner Cherokee Triangle (by Cherokee Run), True Bliss is out of 2001 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes (USA-G3) runner-up Brief Bliss. The next dam in R Harper Rose’s tail-female line, Annul, is a winner by 1982 American Horse of the Year Conquistador Cielo out of Lyphard’s winning daughter Bygones, a half sister to 1986 Chevington Stud Rockfel Stakes (ENG-G3) winner Al Risk (by Mr. Prospector). This is a decidedly speed-leaning family and probably a major contributor to making R Harper Rose a promising sprinter rather than a two-turn candidate.
Although R Harper Rose is unlikely to go further along the Lily Lane, runner-up Fiona’s Magic may get another chance after earning 10 Oaks points for her runner-up performance. A Florida-bred daughter of St. Patrick’s Day (a Group 3-placed full brother to 2015 American Triple Crown winner American Pharoah), she tired after carving out an opening half-mile in :45.90 but still hung on well for second, and this after being a bit slow at the break. A half sister to juvenile stakes winner Cajun’s Magic (by Cajun Breeze), she is out of Mollie’s Magic, whose sire, the Storm Cat horse Factum, is a winning half brother to War Front. Mllie’s Magic herself is an unraced half sister to stakes winners Two T’s at Two Bs (by Untuttable), Scandalous Act (by Act of Duty), and Boo Boo Kitty (by Poseidon’s Warrior).
Chi Chi filled out a Florida-bred trifecta in the Forward Gal, earning six points toward an Oaks starting berth, and may have the best pedigree of all for stretching out to the 9 furlongs of the “Lilies for the Fillies.” A daughter of 2018 Florida Derby (USA-G1) winner Audible, she is a half sister to 2022 Fountain of Youth Stakes (USA-G2) winner Simplification, who ran a creditable fourth in that year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (USA-G1), and is from the family of 2004 Oaks winner and American champion 3-year-old filly Ashado, who went on to repeat as an Eclipse winner as a 4-year-old. For both her and Fiona’s Magic, the March 2 Davona Dale Stakes (USA-G2), which offers 50 points toward the Oaks to the winner, may be the logical next step along this year’s Lily Lane.
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