**Please see the following video of Jackson Bend in his stall the morning after winning the Grade 1, $400,000 Carter Handicap, with commentary from Nick Zito: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23Q6NpsjRk8&list=UUxRmRUB3kX-X-_9YsNFhq3g&index=1&feature=plcp**
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Contact: NYRA Press Office
718-659-2244
NYRA NOTES
- G1 Wood winner Gemologist, G3 Comely winner Broadway’s Alibi en route to Palm Meadows to prepare for next starts
- Wood runner-up Alpha is
- Jackson Bend exits Carter victory in fine fettle and points for Met Mile; Casual Trick to be examined by breathing specialist
- Caleb’s Posse, Shackleford could meet Jackson Bend again in Met Mile
- Derby Dreams firmly in check for the connections of G3 Bay Shore winner Trinniberg
- Jockey Carlos Montalvo released from hospital with collarbone injury
“He came out of the race really well,” said Pletcher by phone from
Gemologist completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.96, for which he earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure, best of three
Accompanying Gemologist on the flight to
“She also came out of her race well,” said Pletcher. “I have to talk with Mrs. Robsham and Anna Ford; we haven’t made a decision about the [May 4] Kentucky Oaks. Right now, we’re keeping an eye on everything.”
* * *
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin had logistics on the brain Easter Sunday morning as he pondered next steps on Wood runner-up Alpha’s path to the Kentucky Derby, plans for Emcee after a fourth-place Carter finish, and a variety of travel scenarios for dual Grade 1-winning filly It’s Tricky.
“With Alpha we’re thinking about where we go, what we do, and how we get there, but we’re pointing for May 5,” McLaughlin said. “He came out of the race great. He did everything right.”
Godolphin Racing’s Alpha broke from the rail and finished a neck behind undefeated Gemologist in the Wood, and McLaughlin believes the Bernardini colt got a valuable education in the process.
“We went with no man in the gate with him,” McLaughlin said. “We decided probably the day before after talking to Roy [Williamson, head starter for NYRA].
After Alpha’s strong showing in the Wood, McLaughlin’s only question was when to send him to Churchill Downs for the
“We might go to
The trainer’s other Wood Day stakes starter was Emcee, a Godolphin color-bearer who finished fourth in the Grade 1 Carter after getting left at the gate.
“He came back fine,” McLaughlin said. “I watched the replay over and over again this morning trying to figure out what happened and if you look at the head on, he went to his knees right when they sprung the latch. We were thinking Met Mile [Grade 1, May 28,
Finally, McLaughlin revealed that dual Grade 1 winner It’s Tricky was most likely headed to Aqueduct’s Grade 2, $200,000 Distaff Handicap run at seven furlongs next Saturday. The Grade 1 Apple Blossom at
“We had two options,” McLaughlin said. “We would have had to fly her this morning to
* * *
The morning after capturing his second career Grade 1 victory in thrilling fashion, Jackson Bend was full of energy in his stall at
“He looks perfect and is doing great,” said Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito, who confirmed that his 5-year-old charge’s next target would be the Grade 1, $750,000 Metropolitan Handicap on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28 at
With his narrow nose triumph over Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Caleb’s Posse in yesterday’s Carter Handicap, the Robert LaPenta-owned Jackson Bend pushed his career earnings over $1.5 million, remained unbeaten in four starts at seven furlongs, and earned a litany of superlatives from his trainer.
“What an unbelievable performance. He has to be one of the gutsiest horses that I have ever trained,” said Zito, who continues to marvel at how
“If you look at him, you ask yourself, ‘How can he perform this way?’ He’s incredible.”
Zito also reported that Casual Trick, who was vanned off after having breathing problems in the Wood Memorial, will be examined by a veterinarian that specializes in diagnosing breathing problems at some point within the next week.
“He’s feeling so good, his coat is perfect, his blood work was fabulous, but unfortunately he has some breathing problems,” Zito said. “We are going to bring in a special vet that will watch him breathe with a Dynamic Respiratory Scope. We need to correct the situation.”
The 3-year-old son of Bernardini, also owned by LaPenta, displayed talent earlier in his career and went into an allowance race on January 29 at
“He went into the allowance race with Take Charge Indy and El Padrino as the favorite,” said Zito. “Those two horses went on to win the Florida Derby (Take Charge Indy) and Risen Star (El Padrino). We have a really nice horse and he is perfectly sound.”
Zito added that his vets had given him clearance to race Casual Trick in the Wood Memorial after he scoped well and looked great after his most recent work.
“Why would I want to put him on the plane and run him [if he wasn’t sound]?” Zito said. “This is a really good, talented horse. We have to get to the bottom of this.”
* * *
Caleb’s Posse and Shackleford, the respective second- and third-place finishers in yesterday’s Carter, were reported by their trainers to be under consideration for the Met Mile on May 28 at
In the Carter, Caleb’s Posse’s late run came up a nose short to Jackson Bend. It was the second consecutive tough beat at Aqueduct for the 2011 Grade 1 Foxwoods King’s Bishop and Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner, who was second by a neck in the Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap on March 3.
“He's doing good,” said Von Hemel. “He's on a flight to
Von Hemel said he and owners McNeill Stables and Cheyenne Stables are pondering the Met Mile for Caleb’s Posse’s next start, but trainer said it’s too early to begin seeing the race as a rematch between the Carter’s first three finishers.
“I think the Met Mile would be under very serious consideration [for Caleb’s Posse], but it’s too early to speculate on who’s going to the race. We’ll have a better idea of who is going a couple of weeks before the race.”
Trainer Dale Romans lauded Shackleford for his performance in the Carter, in which he set the pace and yielded in the stretch to finish third by 1 1/2 lengths. It was the 2011 Grade 1 Preakness winner’s first start at seven furlongs since his maiden victory in the fall of 2010.
“I thought he ran well,” said Romans of Shackleford, who Sunday morning was en route to the trainer’s base at Churchill Downs. “It was a fast race with three fast horses. He didn’t get beat far, and he showed he can run with some of the fastest horses in the country.”
Romans, who trains Shackleford for Michael Lauffer and W.D. Cubbedge, said he plans to keep the colt in one-turn races and that there’s a “strong possibility” the Met Mile will be his next start.
“We didn’t duck anybody last year,” said Romans, “and we’re not going to duck anybody this year.”
* * *
Trinniberg felt fiesty following his three-length
“He’s great,” owner Shivananda Parbhoo said Sunday morning. “He’s doing very, very good. Did you see how he galloped out? It was amazing. Willie [
The son of Teuflesberg gave his connections several signs that he was not overly taxed by his gate-to-wire win in the seven-furlong
“Last night, we gave him his feed at 7:15 and by 7:40, he was finished,” said Shivananda Parbhoo, who manages the colt with his father, trainer Bisnath Parboo. “He wanted to bite everybody, and he’s not that type of horse. Usually, he’s very easy. This morning, he was very, very aggressive – we had to restrain him just to walk him he was so strong.”
Shivananda Parbhoo said he would make a decision about Trinniberg’s next start within the next two weeks, after shipping the colt by van Monday morning back to Bisnath Parboo’s Calder Race Course base.
“I’m still 85 percent for the Preakness, 15 percent for the Kentucky Derby,” said Shivananda Parbhoo. “Everybody likes the
* * *
Jockey Carlos Montalvo has been released from
“I feel very good,” said Montalvo this morning by telephone. “I’m going to meet with a specialist tomorrow afternoon to determine the severity of the injury.”
The incident occurred when Bacchi (#12), Montalvo’s mount, appeared to clip heels with Sumfun (#9). Bacchi fell on the backstretch, unseating Montalvo. Rotten to the Core (#7), ridden by Ryan Curatolo, then fell over Bacchi and suffered a fatal injury in the collision. Curatolo was unseated in the incident, but uninjured. Bacchi also was not reported to have sustained any serious injuries.
Montalvo has registered 880 victories since beginning his riding career in 1999, with eight wins this year from 98 starts.
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