Dazzled Saint keeps impressing

Dazzled Saint is among the leading horses by number of wins with three at Presque Isle Downs, and it looks like that string could continue. Trained by John Bourke, the 3-year-old has won 3 of 4 starts locally by a combined 18 3/4 lengths. On June 9 Dazzled Saint won his maiden race by nine lengths. He came back ten days later to score in an entry-level allowance event by six lengths. In a third-level allowance event July 14, he won by 3 3/4 lengths. All three wins came at distances of 5 or 5 1/2 furlongs, but Bourke doesn’t see his charge as just a sprinter.
“I don’t think the longer distances will be a problem at all for him,: he said. “In his first win the rider couldn’t pull him up – he ran off with him” Bourke continued “ He gallops strongly and I am confident stretching him out won’t be a problem at all.“
The plan is to sprint Dazzled Saint one more time, in a nonwinners-of-four allowance later in the month before stretching him out according to Bourke. “Right now I am taking one week at a time. He is a sound horse and easy to train, if I chart his course properly, I think we will have fun with him for a long time to come”
In his most recent out, Dazzled Saint finished last in the $70,000 Latham at Saratoga going 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf. A quick view of the race explains his poor performance, however, as he was taken up repeatedly throughout the race and ultimately displaced his palate. “ It wasn’t the turf that beat him, just really bad racing luck” Bourke said.
Bourke has 12 horses stabled at Presque Isle and enjoys the surroundings.
“It is kind of a laid-back place and there is enough money here so everybody can survive, it makes for a much better frame of mind.” Bourke chuckled.