6/29/14
Last updated: 6/28/14 8:26 PM
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Wildcat Red returned a dominating winner of the Quality Road
(Leslie Martin/Adam Coglianese Photography) |
Honors Stable Corp.’s Wildcat Red bounced back from a disappointing
18th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby to romp by 10 1/4 lengths in Saturday’s
$90,000
Quality Road Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
“Actually, I’m more impressed than I expected to be impressed,” trainer Jose
Garoffalo said. “These races, when they seem too easy, I feel kind of nervous.
When I run in a tougher race, I feel more confident. Sometimes you never know
what’s going to happen.
“(Jockey) Luis (Saez) was very smart. He let the other horses run faster than
him and let him settle a little the first quarter of a mile. I wasn’t worried
about that. I had a lot of confidence in the rider. He was running about the
same fractions that he ran in the Fountain of Youth against better horses.
“The horse showed his class again, especially with his problems in the
Derby,” Garoffalo added. “I think with this race, the horse will be ready for
the next one, which will be the (Grade 1, $1 million) Haskell (at Monmouth Park
on July 27).”
The three-year-old colt broke right to the lead, but settled in second down
on the inside of pacesetter Purchango, who led the field though opening
fractions in :22 4/5 and :45 4/5.
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Wildcat Red took control of the race after a half-mile and posted six
furlongs in 1:10 1/5. The son of D’wildcat was no match for his competition as
he continued to widen his margin down the stretch without any pressure from
Saez.
“I felt good (in the early going), because I knew that I had a lot of horse.
I can do whatever I want (with him),” said Saez, who had previously ridden
Wildcat Red in the Fountain of Youth and the Kentucky Derby. “This horse felt
better today than other days. Now he’s good. He feels different. He’s big and
has got more experience. I think he’s going to be tough next time out.”
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Wildcat Red was picture perfect at Gulfstream on Saturday
(Kenny Martin/Adam Coglianese Photography) |
Wildcat Red stopped the teletimer in 1:42 3/5 going 1 1/16 miles over the
fast main track. The 1-5 favorite returned $2.60 to his loyal supporters for his
third stakes victory.
East Hall claimed second and was 5 1/4 lengths clear of Real Steel in third.
Best Plan Yet, Purchango, Shiva Curlin and Notyouraveragejoe rounded out the
order of finish.
“After the Derby he came back in good shape,” Garoffalo said. “He came back
sound. Luis was very smart in the Derby. When he saw that the horse had no
chance, he didn’t force him. I think that’s the difference between having a
horse sound for the rest of the year and having a horse with some problems. He
didn’t really run in that race.”
Wildcat Red broke his maiden by eight lengths in his racing debut on
September 14 going 6 1/2 furlongs and beat allowance foes the following month by
1 1/2 lengths at six furlongs. The bay finished first by 1 1/4 lengths in the
Juvenile Sprint on November 9, but was disqualified and placed second after
bearing out on a rival in the stretch.
Making his sophomore debut on New Year’s Day, in the Gulfstream Park Derby,
the bay colt dueled throughout the one-mile test but fell a head short of
General a Rod at the finish. Withdrawn from a projected tilt at the January 25
Holy Bull because of a cold, Wildcat Red went to Plan B in the Hutcheson, and
rolled by 4 3/4 lengths.
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Wildcat Red got revenge on General A Rod in his next start in the Fountain of
Youth on February 22, beating him by a head. The bay would lose by a neck in the
Florida Derby on March 29 in his last prep race before the May 3 Derby. He has
$750,850 in lifetime earnings from a 9-5-3-0 line.
Produced by the Grade 3-placed Racene, a daughter of Miner’s Mark, Wildcat
Red is a half-brother to Racing Machine, a champion in Jamaica. Bred in Florida
by Moreau Bloodstock International and Winter Racing Enterprise, he was a
$30,000 OBS June purchase as a juvenile.
