Three Rules won the US$500,000 In Reality division of the Florida Sire Stakes on Saturday last at Gulfstream Park to complete a three-race sweep of the series’ open division for two-year-olds.

Shade Tree Thoroughbreds’ homebred Three Rules dominated in the In Reality, winning by 10 lengths under Cornelio Velasquez.

The son of Gone Astray, trained by Jamaican-born trainer Jose Pinchin, was timed in 1:44.63 on a fast track to win as the 3-10 favourite, and likely earned a trip to Santa Anita Park for a start in the US$2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) on November 5.

Starting from post 2, Three Rules secured the inside pressured by 60-1 long shot He’s the One a half-length back through a half-mile in :48.12. Increasing his advantage from there, he opened a three-length lead as six furlongs went in 1:12.79, and extended his command to an unassailable nine lengths in early stretch. Thegreatcollection saved ground during a stalking trip to finish second, 8 1/4 lengths ahead of Dont Come Knockin.

“The horse won easy. I wanted to go easy on the lead and wait until the last quarter to ask him a little bit, but I saw on the TV that I got it, so I decided to save him for the end next time,” Velasquez said. “He was very relaxed. He doesn’t need to stay on the lead, but the competition wasn’t too much and he wanted to go easy on the lead. He’s a nice horse.”

Three Rules, from the Full Mandate mare Joy Rules, is the fourth horse to emerge from the Florida Sire series undefeated after sweeping the Dr Fager, Affirmed and In Reality divisions, joining Smile (1984), Seacliff (1995), and Sir Oscar (2003).