Aqueduct: Baratti eyes Withers, Gotham after impressive maiden win

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Baratti proved to be a pleasant surprise winning a maiden race here last week for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, who now may have another 3-year-old prospect for the Triple Crown trail.

After finishing fifth in his debut sprinting here in December, the well-bred Baratti recorded a front-running, six-length victory going two turns over Aqueduct’s inner track last Friday. Baratti, a Darley stable homebred son of Medaglia d’Oro, ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.97 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 92.

McLaughlin, whose top 3-year-old – Cairo Prince – is in Florida, said that he would look at Aqueduct’s series of 3-year-old stakes for Baratti, including the $250,000 Withers on Feb. 1 or the $500,000 Gotham on March 1, with hopes of getting Baratti to the $1 million Wood Memorial on April 5.

“That was a ‘wow’ race for us,” McLaughlin said by phone from south Florida. “We liked him, we thought he would improve, but it’s hard to imagine you’re going to improve that much.”

McLaughlin originally brought Baratti to south Florida to run at Gulfstream. With other horses to run in maiden races there, McLaughlin shipped Baratti back to New York in December. Debuting in a driving snowstorm going six furlongs Dec. 14, Baratti broke poorly, held his head high up in the air early on, and was beaten 5 1/2 lengths by stablemate Cavu.

“If you watch his race, he jumped up and down, dirt in his face along with the snow, he got schooled well,” McLaughlin said. “The other day, going long, Mike Luzzi ended up getting him out of the gate and on the lead.”

McLaughlin said he would discuss the options with his New York assistant, Art Magnuson, to see whether running back in three weeks in the Withers is preferable to waiting for the Gotham in seven weeks.

Meanwhile, McLaughlin said he would not be in a hurry to run Ruthless Stakes winner Mamdooha back anytime soon. Mamdooha won a nose decision over Vero Amore in Sunday’s $100,000 Ruthless for her second straight stakes win.

“We probably need to look at graded stakes next or give her a little time between races,” McLaughlin said. “She is on the small side; we wouldn’t be looking to run her back too quick.”