Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Contact: Jim Bacher
GODOLPHIN’S GIROLAMO GOES FOR GRADE 1 GLORY IN VOSBURGH
ELMONT, N.Y. – Belmont Park’s $350,000 Vosburgh Invitational is the first of five Grade 1 races on “Super Saturday,” with Godolphin Stable’s Girolamo heading a talented field of nine sprinters all vying for their first Grade 1 win.
The 4-year-old A. P. Indy colt will be making just his second start of the year in the six-furlong Vosburgh, having finished fifth in his 2010 debut in the Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga Race Course on September 4.
“It took a long time getting him back to the races this year,” said Rick Mettee, assistant to trainer Saeed bin Suroor. “He didn’t really run that badly considering it was a Grade 1 and a tough race off the layoff. That race should have helped him a lot and he should be fit enough for this race.”
One of several Vosburgh starters with Grade 1 experience, Girolamo has proven successful at
“I think the distance will be fine,” said Mettee. “He’s got a high cruising speed and he shouldn’t really have any excuses in here, if he’s good enough.”
Girolamo will leave from post position 2, carrying rider Alan Garcia as the 2-1 morning-line favorite.
Another horse with multiple Grade 1 starts is Driven by Success, winner of three of his last four starts including the Vic Ziegel Memorial at Saratoga Race Course.
“Even though he’s never won a graded stake, he’s run races that are good enough to win graded stakes,” said trainer Todd Pletcher of Driven by Success, who in 2009 posted a pair of third-place finishes in the Grade 1 Carter and the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap.
The 5-year-old gelding drew the rail under jockey John Velazquez at 4-1 on the morning line.
“He’s historically not a horse that is great on his first step, so breaking from the rail could potentially be a problem, but we’ll see,” said Pletcher.
The most experienced horse in the field is Riley Tucker, who makes his 28th lifetime start in the Vosburgh. The Steve Asmussen-trained son of Harlan’s
“He ran a good race last time,” said assistant trainer Toby Sheets. “He’s got good closing speed but he can go from either direction. I think he’s better from coming off of the pace but we’ll wait and see where they all end up.”
The 5-year-old Zayat Stable color-bearer will be ridden by Ramon Dominguez at 6-1 on the morning line from post position 8.
The most senior member of the field is 6-year-old Temecula Creek, who was claimed for $7,500 in 2009 by trainer Rudy Rodriguez and who won four straight starter allowance races before finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt at Saratoga Race Course and second in the Icecapade at
“Hopefully he runs well,” said Rodriguez. “He’s been doing real well since the Icecapade. The Vosburgh is a very tough race and a Grade 1, but we’re enjoying everything with him. We’ve been very, very blessed.”
At 12-1 on the morning line, Temecula Creek will be ridden by Cornelio Velasquez from post position 5.
Wildcat Brief came from last to win the Icecapade by 1 ¼ lengths and trainer Ben Perkins is looking for a similar run Saturday from the 4-year-old son of Forest Wildcat.
“There should be good early speed Saturday,” said Perkins. “He’s one of those horses who need a good setup. In his races where he’s come off the pace he’s run a little better.”
Wildcat Brief is at 12-1 on the morning line, and will be ridden by Garrett Gomez from the outside.
Rounding out the field are Snapshot, the Grade 2 True North runner-up who is making his first Grade 1 start; Latigo Shore, most recently third in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop at Saratoga Race Course; Grade 3 Toboggan winner Wall Street Wonder, fourth in the Icecapade, and Golden Spikes, making his second start of the year.
The field for the Grade 1 Vosburgh Invitational:
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | Odds |
| 1 | Driven by Success (NY) | J R Velazquez | 124 | T A Pletcher | 4-1 |
| 2 | Girolamo (KY) | A Garcia | 124 | S bin Suroor | 2-1 |
| 3 | Golden Spikes (KY) | J Lezcano | 124 | R E Dutrow, Jr. | 30-1 |
| 4 | | J Castellano | 122 | N P Zito | 10-1 |
| 5 | Temecula Creek (FL) | C H Velasquez | 124 | R R Rodriguez | 12-1 |
| 6 | Snapshot (KY) | K J Desormeaux | 124 | W I Mott | 4-1 |
| 7 | Wall Street Wonder (FL) | C Hill | 124 | J P Terranova, II | 8-1 |
| 8 | Riley Tucker (KY) | R A Dominguez | 124 | S M Asmussen | 6-1 |
| 9 | Wildcat Brief (KY) | G K Gomez | 124 | B W Perkins, Jr. | 12-1 |
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