Since finishing second in the Hopeful S. (G1), STAY THIRSTY (Bernardini) has
been better known as the workmate for celebrated stablemate Uncle Mo (Indian
Charlie), the early Kentucky Derby (G1)
favorite, but the Todd Pletcher-trained colt won’t have to share the spotlight
when he lines up for Saturday’s $250,000
Gotham S.
(G3) at Aqueduct. The Repole Stable colorbearer is the likely favorite among
nine rivals in the 1 1/16-mile inner-track event.
Stay Thirsty rolled to a 5 1/2-length maiden victory in his second career
start at Saratoga and ran well in defeat in the seven-furlong Hopeful, putting
away the other speed on the front end before grudgingly giving way to Boys at
Tosconova (Officer) in the stretch. With his pedigree, Stay Thirsty figured to
appreciate the stretch out to longer distances, but the dark bay colt was
sidelined two months before making his two-turn debut in a difficult spot, the
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). His lack of recent activity showed as Stay Thirsty
struggled home a well-beaten fifth behind Uncle Mo.
“I think when Stay Thirsty gets into the starting gate Saturday, he’s going
to look to his left, look to his right, and have a big smile on his face when he
sees Uncle Mo isn’t there,” Repole said. “You know how passionate I am about
horse racing, and I’m always happy for the horse whether it’s a $7,500 claimer
or Uncle Mo. But if ever there was a horse I’m going to root for, it’s Stay
Thirsty. I really want to see him win this race.”
In advance of the Breeders’ Cup, Stay Thirsty trained at Churchill Downs with
Uncle Mo, and he returned to the official worktab this year with the undefeated
two-year-old champion, posting their first moves at Palm Meadows on January 30.
Both three-year-olds have recorded five workouts this year, and Stay Thirsty
appears to be training forwardly in preparation for the Gotham, including a
sharp five-furlong drill in 1:00 3/5 on February 20. Uncle Mo went in 1:01 2/5
the same afternoon.
“He’s been on an identical schedule as Uncle Mo, and in the three breezes
he’s had with him he’s held his own,” Pletcher said. “He’s handled each
assignment we’ve given him.”
Stay Thirsty will break from post 5 Saturday with new rider Ramon Dominguez.
TOBY’S CORNER (Bellamy Road) exits a convincing two-length score in the
February 5 Whirlaway S. that netted him a field-best 103 BRIS Speed rating. The
chestnut colt rated off the pace in the 1 1/16-mile event before launching
an eye-catching move off the far turn, and he probably would have won by more if
he had switched leads earlier over the muddy track in his stakes, and New York,
debut. The Graham Motion trainee will bring a three-race winning streak into the Gotham,
capturing a maiden special weight and an allowance/optional claiming event at
Laurel Park prior to the Whirlaway. Eddie Castro will retain the mount.
“I think each of his races has been somewhat of a progression,” Motion said.
“He kind of got to gawking at the eighth pole in the Whirlaway, as he had in his
previous race, but he got it together and kind of won nicely. Every race is a
step up, and I hope he shows he belongs with these caliber horses.”
NACHO SAINT (Yes It’s True) will return to stakes company following a 4
1/4-length win over maiden special weight rivals at Aqueduct on January 28. That
marked the 2011 bow of the Kelly Breen-conditioned chestnut, who recorded a second
in the Sanford S. (G2) and a fifth in the Sapling S. (G3) last year while still
a maiden, and Nacho Saint will look to keep improving off the
confidence-building victory. Joe Bravo rides.
THE FED EASED (Montbrook) will step up to face stakes rivals for the first
time following a 7 1/4-length maiden romp at the Big A on January 29, and NORMAN
ASBJORNSON (Real Quiet) invades from Pennsylvania following a pair of easy
tallies over maiden special weight and allowance rivals at Penn National and
Parx Racing, respectively. DAWLY (Awesome Again) and STARSHIP CAESAR (Repent)
will each bring a two-race winning skein into their stakes debuts, winning
starter allowance events most recently at Aqueduct and Gulfstream Park,
respectively.
New York-bred stakes winner and Whirlaway third-placer PREACHINTOTHEDEVIL
(Pulpit) is also entered, and maiden winner ISN’T HE PERFECT (Pleasantly
Perfect) rounds out the field.
The race lost an expected starter in Crossbow (Bernardini), who had been
scratched from last Saturday’s Hutcheson S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park in favor of
the Gotham. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin announced Wednesday that the colt will
undergo surgery to remove an ankle chip.
Six sprinters will square off over six furlongs in the $150,000
Tom Fool
H. (G3) on the Gotham undercard, and CALIBRACHOA (Southern Image) is the one
to beat following his victory in the January 22 Toboggan S. (G3). Claimed for
$40,000 from a victory three starts back, the four-year-old colt captured the
December 18 Gravesend S. in his first start for his new connections
(Repole/Pletcher) and will be seeking his fourth straight victory on Saturday.
Dominguez retains the mount, and Calibrachoa will run coupled with stablemate
HAVE YOU EVER (Van Nistelrooy).
DEPUTY DANEY (Officer) wheels back off a wire-to-wire victory in the February
13 Always Run Lucky S. and will likely show speed from the rail Saturday with
new jockey Jeremy Rose. FLAT BOLD (Flatter) and DAHLGREN CHAPEL (Chapel Royal)
both merit consideration off recent wins over the inner track, and FASTUS CACTUS
(Cactus Ridge) will try to turn things around following a pair of unplaced
efforts.