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Gattopardo
Photo Credit: Jim McCue/MJC
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LAUREL, MD. 03-01-08---Germania Farms, Inc.’s Gattopardo took the next logical step after soundly beating allowance runners and trounced a solid group of 3-year-olds in the $70,000 Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel Park.
Ridden for the first time by jockey Julian Pimentel, the grey colt stalked pre-race favorite Cave’s Valley through the far turn in the seven furlong test, then shifted into another gear and galloped away to win by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:24.16. Apple Special rallied to take second and Cave’s Valley held on to finish third.
The winner, who is trained by Tim Tullock at Laurel, paid $5.20 as the race time favorite. He led off a $31 exacta and a $144.80 triple.
“He gave me a pretty good feeling,” said Pimentel. “The main thing was to get him to relax, which I did right away. He made a big move when I asked him to. The main thing was to get him to relax, which Tim told me to do, to rate out of there and make one move, which is what happened. He is a very nice horse.”
Gattopardo was an impressive, 4-3/4 length winner against entry level allowance runners on January 21 and came into the race off a pair of bullet works since the score.
“I was real happy last time, real happy today,” said Tullock. “Today he improved even more and when Julian asked him to move on up there, he put into gear. It was a tougher race than his last but he responded well. We are happy.”
Cave’s Valley suffered his third consecutive defeat after beginning his career with three straight victories, including a pair of stakes.
“There was an improvement but I don’t really know what the problem is,” said Mike Trombetta, who trains Cave’s Valley. “He came out of the gate better and put himself into a nice rating position. I thought turning for home he would be a little tougher but we’ll keep working. Tim looks like he really has a nice horse.”
Tullock, who conditioned star sprinter Abbondanza for Germania Farms, indicated the son of Johannesburg would likely start in the Grade III Bay Shore at Aqueduct on April 5. If all goes well he would point towards the $1 million Preakness Stakes (Grade I), the middle jewel of racing’s Triple Crown, at Pimlico Race Course on May 17.
“He is a wonderful horse but needs more time,” added Tullock. “He has not won the route of ground yet. He has run well but all three of his wins are sprinting. I am hopeful he runs well in the Bay Shore and after one more start look at the Preakness.”
Miracle Wood winners Sweetnorthernsaint (2006), Malibu Moonshine (2005) and Water Cannon (2004) all competed in the Preakness.
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