Bozzo, 94, savors the ride with Flutterby

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – At the age of 94, Jerry Bozzo became the oldest trainer ever to win a stakes when Flutterby ran the race of her life to capture the Sea Lily Handicap here last month. On July 5, Bozzo will attempt to become the oldest trainer ever to win a graded stakes when he brings his homebred filly back in the Grade 2 Princess Rooney Handicap.

“I’m thinking winning a race like this would be so unbelievable, it could add a few more years to my life,” said Bozzo. “On the other hand, the anxiety of watching her come down the stretch, if she’s in contention, might just subtract a few.”

Bozzo, who turns 95 in October, had been a mainstay at Calder Race Course since first taking out his trainer’s license in 1984 prior to relocating to Gulfstream Park this season. Bozzo retired from his glass-bottle manufacturing business in Pennsylvania 15 years prior to getting his trainer’s license.

Flutterby is out of another Bozzo homebred, Zoobie, who was winless in four starts during her racing career and is the younger sister of the two-time stakes-placed Zoobstick. Flutterby earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure for her gate-to-wire, 9 1/4-length triumph over recent stakes winner Little Alexis in the 6 1/2-furlong Sea Lily.

“Her last race was spectacular. What can I say?” said Bozzo. “I did use a little different tactic in the race, sending her to the lead, and it seemed to be immensely successful. It was also the first time in a while I was able to train her the way I really wanted to coming into a race. She was still stabled at Calder prior to her previous start, and I had to move her three times in five days because of flooding in the stalls. She’s not the most composed filly in the world, and that was pretty traumatic for her. I knew she wouldn’t run her best, yet she still finished second on sheer ability.”

Bozzo also had lingering doubts about whether Flutterby would be at her best in the Sea Lily after going through another traumatic experience just five days before the race.

“Like I said, she’s not the most composed filly, so a couple of years ago, I got her a goat,” Bozzo said. “The Monday before her last start, I got to the barn in the morning and discovered the goat had died suddenly during the night. I felt she might wind up grieving for the goat and falling apart, but obviously she handled it okay. There has been a loose goat walking around in Barn 21 here of late, and occasionally he will come by and visit her. That’s about the nearest thing to normalcy she’s had ever since.”

Bozzo knows he’s taking a big step up with Flutterby in the six-furlong Princess Rooney, but he said she deserves the chance off her last performance.

“She seems to be shaping up nicely for the endeavor,” said Bozzo. “Whether she can do it or not, that will be up to her. The race is a little shorter than the last one. I don’t particularly like that, but I can’t deny her the opportunity.”

The Princess Rooney is a Win and You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, and Bozzo said he just recently realized the implications should Flutterby win again.

“I’m definitely a lot less active than I used to be,” said Bozzo. “I don’t travel much these days. In fact, I don’t even drive anymore. I have an aide who handles the driving for me. It certainly wouldn’t be easy going to Keeneland for the Breeders’ Cup if the situation arose, but wouldn’t it just be something if I had to worry about it?”

Bozzo will have to wait until at least December if he’s also to become the oldest trainer ever to win a race in the U.S. That distinction belongs to the late Noble Threewit, who saddled his final winner at the age of 95 years and 2 months at Santa Anita on April 22, 2006.

La Verdad eyes Rooney

Trainer Linda Rice said Tuesday she is considering bringing La Verdad down from New York for the Princess Rooney. Rice scratched her speedy filly out of last Saturday’s Bed o’ Roses Handicap at Belmont Park due to a minor foot problem.

La Verdad was a popular winner of her two previous starts this season, the Grade 2 Distaff Handicap at Aqueduct and the Grade 3 Vagrancy Handicap on May 16 at Belmont Park.

“She’s got a little issue in her foot at the moment,” Rice said. “I’m not sure where she’ll end up next, although the Princess Rooney is our most logical option. I want to give the foot a couple of more days before sending her back to the track, after which I’ll make a decision.”