Barbadian Runner cranked up for Deputed Testamony
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Barbadian Runner will get his first real test as a 4-year-old when he takes on eight older males in the $125,000 Deputed Testamony Stakes on Saturday at Laurel Park.
Trainer Henry Walters said he doesn’t know what to expect from Barbadian Runner, but after racking up six stakes victories and trading wins with Post Time last year, it’s hard to conceive of an insurmountable challenge for the Maryland-bred.
“I don’t expect him to have the same kind of season he had last year,” Walters said. “The opportunities won’t be there, but he’ll probably race a little more sparingly this year and, hopefully, the races that we choose for him work in his favor.”
Toward the end of a staggering 12-race campaign last year, Barbadian Runner never lost a step as a 3-year-old, improving to defeat Post Time in the $150,000 Maryland Million Classic. The Brittany Russell-trained Post Time won the rematch two months later in the $100,000 Robert T. Manfuso, but Barbadian Runner arguably ran an even better race in defeat, earning a 107 Beyer Speed Figure.
After that effort, Barbadian Runner finally earned his layoff and did not run again until May, making a pair of allowance starts ahead of the Deputed Testamony. After a five-length score at Laurel on May 30, Walters said he’s as ready as he will ever be for the 1 1/8-mile stakes.
Duke of Duval has been up against it in his last four starts for Steve Asmussen, notably finishing fifth behind White Abarrio, Sovereignty, and Journalism in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap in April. In the Grade 3 Pimlico Special last month, he finished a much closer fourth behind Navajo Warrior.
“His last two races were against extremely good horses, and I thought his run in the Pimlico Special was solid,” Asmussen said. “He needs to break a little better, but I do feel that he has a very good chance of winning this.”
Jokestar, shipped from Woodbine in February and won the $100,000 Post Time at Laurel by 6 1/2 lengths. He will make the same move Saturday for Kevin Attard.
Japan Racing Association
Much can be said to paradoxically describe A Bourbon for Toby, once a professional maiden who has since proven himself in graded stakes company. Bettors will have to accept him as he is when he returns to Laurel for the $125,000 Japan Racing Association Turf Cup on Saturday.
“We’re under no illusions that we are still a second-level allowance horse running in stakes,” trainer Tom Morley said. “But he deserves to take his chance. He’s probably got the best last-out effort of the field.”
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Coming off a distant third behind Integration in an Aqueduct allowance on May 7, Morley wasn’t sure if he wanted to ship the 4-year-old colt to Maryland on short rest. The Grade 3 Dinner Party was sure to be a challenge on May 16, but A Bourbon for Toby validated his trainer and then some, rallying to finish second, three-quarters of a length behind Grade 1 winner Fort Washington.
After running such a strong race at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Laurel, it was serendipitous for the same conditions to appear a month later. This time, A Bourbon for Toby could be the favorite in a field of nine older males.
Truly Quality, a 6-year-old gelding, has considerable graded stakes experience, including a win in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar in November, but trainer Jonathan Thomas is tempering his expectations. He has run 1 1/4 miles or longer in 13 straight starts.
“It’s going to be too short for him at Laurel, but hopefully he gets a little more pace since it’s a little bit shorter,” Thomas said. “We’re just trying to regroup.”
Alma North Stakes
Benedetta has always shown flashes of talent for trainer Steve Asmussen, but the 5-year-old mare could finally settle into high-level form in the $125,000 Alma North Stakes on dirt Saturday.
In the $125,000 Skipat at Laurel last time out, Benedetta was returning from a short layoff and had serious questions to answer after regressing in four starts over the winter. Asmussen’s confidence was rewarded when she rallied for second with a 90 Beyer.
“It was encouraging that she’s rounding back into a form,” Asmussen said. “Her past performances show she’s capable of very good races.”
From the very beginning, Benedetta’s problem has always been stringing races together. The 6 1/2-furlong Alma North could be the perfect opportunity for her to build a more solid foundation.
The field of nine fillies and mares features seven stakes winners, including Grammy Girl. The Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee has won back-to-back Grade 3 races at Aqueduct and will try to win her fourth straight stakes since November.
In December, trainer Jorge Abreu claimed the New York-bred Bam’s Bliss Kiss in the midst of what has become a six-race winning streak. She will return from a short layoff after clearing New York-bred rivals by 8 1/4 lengths in the $135,000 Biogio’s Rose at Aqueduct in April.
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