Chocolate Ride makes first start since May in Diliberto

He’s already taken them on a long, exciting ride, and Chocolate Ride’s connections hope the gelding still has enough gas to stay in the fast lane.

Chocolate Ride, who turns 7 in a couple of weeks, will make his first start since May when he runs in the $75,000 Buddy Diliberto Memorial Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Chocolate Ride came to hand swiftly two winters ago at Fair Grounds after being claimed for $40,000 by owners Stephan Brochu and John Wentworth and trainer Brad Cox. Chocolate Ride won the Grade 3 Fair Grounds Handicap and the Grade 2 Mervin Muniz two seasons ago, and last year at Fair Grounds captured the Grade 3 Col. Bradley and a second Fair Grounds Handicap before finishing fourth, beaten three lengths, in the Muniz.

“There’s always that worry that he’s a year older, and is he still that good? But training him, he sure appears to be,” Cox said.

Chocolate Ride has won six of his eight Fair Grounds turf starts and was second in another, and he is back at his favorite venue for his first start since finishing ninth May 7 in the Grade 1 Turf Classic. Chocolate Ride had what Cox termed a “minor setback” coming out of a workout on Oct. 29, but all has since gone well. There is no evidence of the hoof soreness that has troubled him at times.

“He appears to be really fit. Last year off his layoff, he had about five works. He just looks tremendous. We’re super pleased with the way he’s moving, and his feet are in great shape right now,” Cox said.

Chocolate Ride and his regular rider, Florent Geroux, figure to be favored and should go straight to the front from post 3, and if, as is hoped, Chocolate Ride enters fit and comes back the same horse, he probably won’t be caught.

But even fans of Chocolate Ride should not feel guilty seeking more value Saturday. Cox’s second runner, Western Reserve, is not without a chance while making his first start since being purchased by Mark Detampel and turned over to Cox.

“We’re still trying to figure him out a little bit, but he trains like a good horse,” Cox said. “I think he’ll probably settle off the pace. That would be the plan.”

Pumpkin Rumble is winless in 2016 but faced graded stakes opposition in four of those five starts and won his most recent Fair Grounds grass race last winter. Greengrassofyoming might need more distance for his best but got good enough over the summer for trainer Mike Maker to finish a close fourth in the Arlington Million. Granny’s Kitten on his best day has enough quality to contend but is poorly drawn in post 10.

Green Mask drops but no lock

Green Mask was a close fifth in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint last out, and logic would dictate he’s a good thing coming right back in the $75,000 Bonapaw Stakes on Saturday. But the Bonapaw is a 5 1/2-furlong dash, and Green Mask, while he has run well in short sprints, has yet to win one of them.

“He was training well in California and has continued to do so,” trainer Brad Cox said. “He’s probably a little bit better going a little farther, but when you’re talking about turf sprints, we don’t have too many options this time of year.”

Green Mask broke from post 14 and fell to the rear of the Turf Sprint field before coming with a sustained run. He has shown the ability to stick closer to the leaders, and jockey Robby Albarado will surely attempt to take up a stalking position from post 3.

Cox’s second runner in the race, Almasty, also would prefer a longer distance. While not as accomplished as Green Mask, he, too, has shown ample talent.

The pick, though, is the 7-year-old veteran Hogy. Hogy has finished first or second in five of his last six starts and exits a fast-closing runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Woodford Stakes at Keeneland over 5 1/2 furlongs and a win going five furlongs on the Churchill course last out. He has never started at Fair Grounds, but the long stretch should suit him, and even late in his career, Hogy is going as well as ever for owner Bill Stiritz and trainer Scott Becker.