Azizam should warm up to cutback in Indian Summer
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LEXINGTON, Ky. – Trainer George Weaver, who has handled a number of solid turf sprinters in recent years, sent out another one as Johnny’s Red Storm was a two-length front-running winner of the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Sprint on Aug. 31. Rallying for third in his first start in the United States was his new stablemate Azizam.
Johnny’s Red Storm has since gone to the sidelines for 60 days, with plans to prepare him for a 3-year-old campaign. But the barn still has Azizam in the $300,000 Indian Summer Stakes on Sunday at Keeneland, which could prove a key prep toward the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar.
“He’s training well,” Weaver said of Azizam. “We’re happy with him. We’ve been nothing but happy with the horse since we got him.”
Azizam acquitted himself well in Europe, making his first three starts under the care of Karl Burke. After his debut win, he was purchased by a group of American-based owners, including Black Type Thoroughbreds. He went on to finish in a dead heat for third – with Rogue Legend, who he faces again Sunday – in the Windsor Castle Stakes at the Royal Ascot meeting. Both those races were at five furlongs. Going six furlongs, and on turf with some give in it, the colt finished ninth in the Grade 2 Richmond Stakes. He was then shipped to the United States and Weaver’s barn.
Azizam rallied for third at Kentucky Downs in a race effectively longer than its 6 1/2 furlongs due to the undulations of that course. He is cutting back to a true 5 1/2 furlongs here and should get firm turf that suits him while facing several familiar foes. Obiliteration (second), Twilight Delight (fourth), Trendsetter (seventh), and Zeus’s Echo (ninth) are all emerging from the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint.
Rogue Legend also will get a rematch with Azizam after they were deadlocked in the Windsor Castle. Rogue Legend has since finished third in the Rosie’s Stakes at Colonial Downs. Trainer Wesley Ward has him cross-entered in Sunday’s Algonquin Stakes at Woodbine but said he plans to run at Keeneland – as will expensive and well-regarded maiden stablemate Schwarzenegger, who was cross-entered in the Speakeasy Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita. Twilight Delight, trained by Daniel Leitch, also is cross-entered in the Speakeasy.
Obliteration turned in a fine effort at Kentucky Downs to be second in his first turf outing. The colt won a key maiden race on the dirt, then was a 10 1/2-length winner of the Grade 3 Sanford before finishing second in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special. Continued development and a shorter distance make him dangerous.
Bobrovsky also made a switch to turf with aplomb. A second-out auction-restricted maiden winner by 10 1/2 lengths, he then moved to turf and won the Skidmore Stakes over the consistent Monster and Spirit of New York, who came back to win a New York-bred stakes. The 81 Beyer Speed Figure he earned for the Skidmore victory is the best grass figure in the field.
Trendsetter won the Hickory Tree Stakes at Colonial before his effort at Kentucky Downs. Indiana debut winner Uncle Bucky completes the field.
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