Casual Trick and Ancient Rome the two favourites for the Gulfstream Park Derby
As the 2012 season gets underway, trainers and connections will be looking to get early recognition for their sophomore runners on the Triple Crown trail starting with the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, and the 2012 three-year-old class will debut it’s sophomore season in the $100,000 Gulfstream Park Derby to get into the front runners to win the Kentucky Derby.
The two likely choices to win the Gulfstream Park Derby and get early recognition are Ancient Rome and Casual Trick.
The 2-year-old colt, Casual Trick, is trained by Nicholas P. Zito for owner Robert V. LaPenta, and the Kentucky bred is coming off a strong performance in his debut race over a mile at Churchill Downs on 18 November, 2011. He broke his maiden at second asking, finishing fifth before, at Saratoga over 6 furlongs.
Michael Dubb’s Ancient Rome, on the other hand, is coming off a spectacular win in the six furlong long Spectacular Bid at Gulfstream Park on 3 December, 2011.
He will be ridden by Jockey Joe Rocco, Jr. who got a return call after riding home the colt to victory in the $100,000 Spectacular Bid.
Ancient Rome too did break his maiden at second asking by 7 ¾ lengths at Delaware Park on 22 October.
“I honestly don’t know what to expect,” said Dutrow, who trains Ancient Rome. “He certainly has the talent, and if he can get the distance, he’s going to be a useful 3-year-old. It’s all about experimenting here (distance). If it doesn’t work out, we’ll just campaign him as a sprinter.”
The son of Bernardini, out of mare Casual Look by Red Ransom, Casual Trick will have jockey John Velazquez on board. Robert V. LaPenta offered Dialed In to Velazquez on many occasions, and the jockey obliged by winning the Grade 3 Holly Bull Stakes with the colt and Grade 1 Florida Derby.
“I just thought right off the bat to see how good he is,” Zito said. “I think he’s really good. He’s had a lot of good workouts and, more important, I think his development looks terrific and he’s extremely well bred.”
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