Castellano curious to see where The Puma fits
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Javier Castellano knows The Puma was among the top of the 3-year-old division in the spring of the year. But Castellano is anxious to find out where he fits now.
The Puma will get to take on the top of the 3-year-old division next week in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on Aug. 29. On Friday, Castellano put The Puma through his final workout before the race when he worked him six furlongs in 1:14.76 over Saratoga’s main track.
Leaving from the six-furlong pole, The Puma went in splits of 13.41 seconds, 26.09, 38.09, and 50.19, and got his final quarter in 24.57 seconds. He continued out in 1:28.16 and completed a mile in 1:40.51. It was The Puma’s third work since his fourth-place finish in the Haskell on July 19 at Monmouth Park. Castellano was aboard for all three.
“Nothing fancy, just a maintenance work,” said Castellano, who said trainer Gustavo Delgado told him, “He just wanted something steady, but not overdo it.”
Gustavo Delgado Jr., the son of trainer Gustavo Delgado, said the work began at the six-furlong pole, based on something Castellano mentioned after last week’s five-furlong work.
“Basically, he felt we need to get him more relaxed and he got into a good tempo from the beginning this morning,” the younger Delgado said. “And he looked a lot more confident out there. The horse definitely loves it here and we feel he is going to move forward from his last race. Whether that’s good enough, we’ll see.”
Castellano rode The Puma to a victory in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby, and to within a nose of Commandment in the Grade 1 Florida Derby. The Puma was scratched from the Kentucky Derby with a hock issue. He came off a near four-month layoff and finished fourth in the Haskell, run over a sloppy track.
“I don’t think he had the opportunity to show his talent,” said Castellano, who was injured when The Puma ran in the Haskell. “He’s got to show it now. Nobody knows, I don’t even know, how talented he is. With the young horses early in his career, he was ahead. Now, everybody’s equal – all of them grew up, mentally and physically. Now, he’s got to face the Kentucky Derby and Belmont winner and the Preakness winner and even Renegade.”
– additional reporting by Mike Welsch
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