Trainer Dutrow optimistic about Rail Trip’s chances at the Whitney Handicap despite tough competition
The Richard Dutrow Jr. trained Rail Trip will be the last horse to show up for the 6th August, Grade 1, $750,000 Whitney Handicap.
The Whitney Handicap has drawn a competitive field with the likes of Apart, Tizway, Mission Impazible and Giant Oak, but Dutrow insists his recently forgotten gelding will be the first one to cross the wire in the 1 1/8 mile event.
6-year-old Rail Trip has made only one start in 2011 in the Easy Goer Stakes at a distance of 1 1/16 miles at Belmont Park dirt course.
The gelding finished second with jockey Ramon Dominguez after a hard fought race. Rail Trip just couldn’t keep up with the winner, Friend or Foe, in his season opener.
Prior to and since the race, Rail Trip has been out of mind and out of sight, working out at Aqueduct for the Whitney under Dutrow’s supervision.
Rail Trip was scheduled to have a half a mile breeze for the Whitney Handicap on 3 August, 2011. Following the preparations, Rail Trip will mount on a van to Saratoga on 4 August, 2011.
Rail Trip has a Grade 1 win under his belt from back in 2009, when he was four year's old.
The win came in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at Hollywood Park synthetic surface on 11 July, 2009.
Under jockey Jose Valdivia, Rail Trip powered home to a 3 length victory over Tres Borrachos at Inglewood track.
The victory was sweet vindication for Rail Trip and his connections, who had been favoured throughout the year of 2009, and to back the fact he was sent at a juicy 9 to 1 favourite for the Gold Cup.
The year 2010 started with back to back victories for the 6-year-old gelding, as he rolled home, in impressive style in the Grade 2 Mervyn Leroy at Hollywood Park.
Roused by jockey Rafael Bejarano, the pair conquered the distance of 1 1/16 miles in 1 minute and 42.37 seconds, to win the race and meanwhile defeated their rivals Sangaree and Cigar Man.
His second win of the 2010 opening two races was the Grade 2 Californian, which he won under the same jockey Rafael Bejarano at 1 1/8 miles on 12 June, 2010.
The New York appearances lately haven’t been too proud a moment for the gelding Rail Trip, as he was tormented by fellow Whitney runner Friend or Foe in the Easy Goer Stakes at Belmont.
Prior to the Easy Goer, his last appearance at Belmont Park was in fall of 2010, when he finished at a disappointing fifth position in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup.
His last race was tremendous, and his connections would be hoping that he can build on that valiant defeat at the hand of Friend or Foe in the Whitney Handicap at Saratoga on 6 August, 2011.
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