D'Angelo has faith in Ciborio as he seeks first win
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One could argue that if Ciborio had stayed at Gulfstream Park for his entire juvenile campaign, his maiden victory might already be well behind him. But in two starts at Kentucky Downs last year, the colt showed trainer Jose D’Angelo more in defeat than he might have with a softer victory.
“He’s doing very well,” D’Angelo said. “I’m very sure that he’s going to run good.”
Having taken the winter to prepare, Ciborio will make his 3-year-old debut in the 10th race on Sunday at Gulfstream, a $68,000 maiden special weight. The mile distance on turf is familiar to him, but D’Angelo thinks he will appreciate two turns more than the unique one-turn mile at Kentucky Downs.
“I think he’s a two-turn horse,” D’Angelo said. “I don’t see him running sprints, so we’re going to keep trying in long races over there.”
When the Raging Bull colt ran at Gulfstream last year, he was still finding himself and did little running in his five-furlong debut or longer follow-up effort. He finally showed his first glimpse of potential in his third start, shipping to Kentucky Downs and improving to finish second by a half-length in a $163,000 maiden special weight.
Coming off a sharper effort, the trainer took his chance on a short turnaround and entered him in the $1 million Juvenile Mile, where he finished seventh by 16 1/2 lengths. After running three times in six weeks, he started his winter break early and returned to training in March.
In nine starts at Kentucky Downs last year, D’Angelo racked up three wins and four runner-up finishes, a stellar meet at the popular turf venue. If Ciborio improves into winning form as a 3-year-old, a return to the track is firmly in the cards this summer.
D’Angelo said he was concerned about the far outside post Sunday, but he still expects a strong return for the promising 3-year-old. His stablemate Law Enforcer will scratch, making the work to get inside slightly easier in a shortened field of nine 3-year-olds.
Ciborio will not be the only maiden coming out of a stakes, as Serac improved to finish second in the statebred Sophomore Turf on March 29 at Tampa Bay Downs. The Nicholas Palmer trainee had previously finished fourth in two races against open-company maidens at Gulfstream.
Sound Bite, a gelding trained by Miguel Clement, will make his second start in the United States after finishing third on March 27 at Tampa. He lost both of his races in Ireland in photo finishes.
Rockon Rockall showed early speed in his debut and could be the pacesetter again for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. He faded to sixth at 1 1/8 miles and will cut back to a more forgiving route distance. Silent Impact, a second-time starter switching to turf for Bill Mott, could join him in the early going.
Gallant King is the only first-time starter in the field and will debut at a mile for Todd Pletcher.
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