Saturday’s Grade 3 Suwannee River Stakes at Gulfstream Park will feature an intriguing clash between two talented South African-bred fillies, Golden Hostess and Bless My Stars. The mile-long turf race will see Johnny Velazquez aboard Golden Hostess, while Irad Ortiz Jr. takes the reins on Bless My Stars.

Golden Hostess, formerly trained by the Bass Robinson team, will carry the colors of Gaynor Rupert’s Drakenstein Stud. She has drawn wide in post 10. The filly boasts a solid South African record, with four wins, including the Grade 3 Diana Stakes, and multiple Grade 1 placings. Since moving to the U.S., she has shown promise, finishing a strong third in her American debut over 1100m and following that up with a runner-up finish in the $150,000 Autumn Day Stakes over 1200m.

Bless My Stars, making her first U.S. start, brings a strong résumé to the race. Trained by Todd Pletcher, she races in the renowned Team Valor silks and has drawn the widest gate in post 12. In South Africa, she captured five victories, highlighted by the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic and the Grade 2 Gold Bracelet. She also placed third in the iconic Durban July, solidifying her credentials as one of the top fillies in the country. Pletcher’s charge has reportedly been working exceptionally well leading up to this event and will have the services of Ortiz, one of America’s premier jockeys.

Both fillies bring rich South African heritage to the Gulfstream stage, setting the scene for an exciting battle against international and local competition.

Image Bless My Stars (JC Photos)