D'Angelo confident Kirin can handle turf in Tyro

Trainer Jose D’Angelo is hoping Kirin will be able to transfer his good dirt form to turf in Saturday’s five-furlong, $100,000 Tyro Stakes at Monmouth Park.

He’s not alone.

Turf is the question mark for six of the seven 2-year-olds entered in the Tyro. Governor Sam is the lone horse to have raced on the grass, and he could go favored off a win in maiden special weight at Saratoga.

Otherwise, horseplayers will have to sort through various data to get a gauge on the field that includes Johnny Come Lately, a half-brother to 2019 Tyro winner Karak.

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Kirin, now based at Saratoga, won a maiden special weight sprint by 2 1/2 lengths May 31 at Gulfstream Park. He was prominent throughout the five-furlong race and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 69, which is the best non-turf number in the Tyro.

“I worked him on the grass because I saw his mother, who was trained by Chad Brown, won on the grass,” D’Angelo said. “I worked him here at Saratoga to see what we had on our hands and he worked pretty good. He looked pretty good on the grass so I spoke with the owners and said, ‘I know he won on the dirt first time out, but I think it’s a good spot to run in the Tyro,’ and they said yes. So, that’s why we put the horse in. I think we have a pretty good chance.”

Kirin’s dam, Wealth Effect, won her maiden on turf at Belmont Park and later became stakes-placed on the grass when second in the Memories of Silver at Aqueduct. Kirin is by the late stallion Lord Nelson, who gets 12 percent winners on turf. Kirin races for Moreplay LLC and Adela Munoz.

Samuel Marin has the mount from post 2.

“I like the horse,” D’Angelo said. “He’s improving so much. He’s maturing every week.

“We need to have a good start and relax and make our move when we come to the stretch.”

Governor Sam debuted on turf in the Royal Palm Juvenile and finished a close sixth to the D’Angelo-trained Gabaldon, who proceeded to run second in the Windsor Castle Stakes during the Royal Ascot meet in June.

Governor Sam then won his maiden over 5 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga and the Beyer of 76 that he earned is the best number in the Tyro. Paco Lopez has the mount for trainer George Weaver.

Johnny Come Lately, who is trained by Wesley Ward, was a debut winner in May at Churchill Downs and has been working on turf at Saratoga in advance of the Tyro. Aside from Karak, Johnny Come Lately’s half-sibling Aqua Frio was also a winner on the grass.

Johnny Come Lately is by Hootenanny, who is getting 12 percent winners from his first-time turfers in a limited sample. Joe Bravo has the mount from post 5.

Ghostly Rose shares the same sire, Battalion Runner, as Rated by Merit, who owns the year’s highest Beyer Speed Figure for a 2-year-old, a 92. Battalion Runner is getting 13 percent winners on turf from a limited sample.

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