LAUREL, MD 04-04-08---The three-year-old picture will be clearer after this weekend’s races with major Triple Crown preps in California, New York and Kentucky. Gattopardo and Bsharpsonata, a pair of talented Laurel Park-based horses are major participants in key graded tests that could determine the top sophomore horses in the country, both male and female.
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Bsharpsonata
Photo Credit: Jim McCue/MJC
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Cloverleaf Farm’s Bsharpsonata, from the Tim Salzman stable, is the 5-1 third choice in the $500,000 Ashland Stakes (Grade I) at Keeneland. A solid performance would propel the Pulpit filly into the $1 million Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) at Churchill Downs on May 2.
Since winning the Selima Stakes on her home track on the De Francis Dash undercard last November, Bsharpsonata has reeled off three consecutive stakes victories in Florida: Tropical Park Oaks (Jan 1 at Calder), Grade II Forward Gal Stakes (Feb 9 at Gulfstream Park) and Grade II Davona Dale Stakes (March 2 at Gulfstream).
“We were really proud of her in Florida doing everything we have asked,” Salzman said. “Now it is Polytrack and we hope she takes to that as much as the turf, slop and fast track. The field is tough but it takes the pressure off us, not being the favorite. She has really flourished with a month in-between races. Having a fresh horse has been a major key to her success.”
Salzman’s father, John, who trained and co-owned champion Xtra Heat, has been in charge of the daughter of Pulpit as Tim Salzman tends to his 40-horse stable at Laurel. Bsharpsonata arrived in Kentucky last week after her three-month stint in Florida and worked 1:01.60 at Keeneland last Wednesday.
Eric Camacho, who rides first call for all the Salzman horses, has teamed up with Bsharpsonata for five stakes victories in her last six starts. The Ashland will be the first Grade I mount for the 24-year-old Baltimore native.
“I don’t think she has gotten a good trip in her last three races,” Camacho said. “At Calder we were in the nine-hole and got hung wide every step. In the next race the rail was dead at Gulfstream all day but that was my only opportunity. In her last start a horse stopped right in front of her. I think she is unbeatable if we can get a good trip.”
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Gattopardo
Photo Credit: Jim McCue/MJC
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Germania Farms’ Gattopardo is the 3-1 second choice in the Grade III Bay Shore Stakes for three-year-olds at Aqueduct, one of three graded races on the Wood Memorial undercard. The son of Johannesburg, who put in a splendid five-furlong bullet work at Laurel Park last Saturday, won the Miracle Wood Stakes on his home track in his last start receiving a Beyer speed figure of 103.
“It is a tough race,” Tullock said. “You can make a legitimate case for every horse in the field. There is not a horse in there that does not belong and how many races can you say that about? What I like about our chances is that we have two victories going the distance. He has the tactical speed to put himself in the right position. If he can finish up from there we’ll be in the picture. We feel good about our chances. We are going in off a big win, which was rewarded with a big number.”
Tullock indicated the ultimate goal for his star is the $1 million Preakness Stakes (Grade I), the middle jewel of racing’s vaunted Triple Crown, at Pimlico Race Course on May 17.
Gattopardo has been first or second in all six career starts. Julian Pimentel retains the ride.
TOP RIDERS ALSO OUT-OF-TOWN
Rosie Napravnik and Jeremy Rose, Laurel’s top two riders, will be riding out of town on Saturday as well.
Rose will be in New York with five mounts at Aqueduct, including Roman Emperor (Grade I Wood Memorial) and Lord Snowdon (Grade I Carter). Lord Snowdon finished a head behind Bustin Stones in the Grade II General George in February. The Carter features five of the top six finishers from the General George, including the winner and Laurel-based Ryan’s For Real.
Napravnik has seven mounts at Gulfstream Park, including one aboard Dave for trainer Barclay Tagg in the Grade III Pan American Handicap. The 20-year-old will also ride in south Florida Sunday afternoon.
-MJC-