Duggan looking forward to growth after progressive 2022
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – There were times when trainer David Duggan thought about getting out of the game. Several nonproductive years can make one look for other things to do.
“We were at that front gate multiple times,” said Duggan, who operates a small string of horses with his wife, Lara.
This year, though, the Duggans had a year upon which they hope to build. Led by Drafted, who won three stakes, and Snicket and King Kumbalay, who each won three times, the Duggans won 14 races from 53 starters and earned $928,630. The wins were the stable’s most since 2010, the purse money the highest earned since 2008.
Now, a big opportunity is on the horizon as the Duggans have picked up several horses from trainer Richard Schosberg, who is retiring this week. About seven horses trained – and partially owned by Schosberg – for Clear Stars Stable have or will join Duggan’s shed row. Actually, Duggan has moved into the barn that housed Schosberg’s horses.
“It’s a huge opportunity. They’re buying new horses every year and they’re in the New York-bred program,” David Duggan said. “You’re relevant. That’s what it comes down to.”
Among the horses that Duggan will now train is D’ont Lose Cruz, a 2-year-old New York-bred gelding by Always Dreaming who finished second in the Notebook Stakes on Nov. 25. He is likely to run in an allowance race and/or the Rego Park Stakes. Others that could show up here this winter include Luna Loca, a recent winner for maiden $40,000 claiming, Three Unions, and Pebble Lane.
Before he looks ahead to the prospects of 2023, Duggan will try to close out 2022 with a stakes win when he sends out Drafted in Friday’s $135,000 Gravesend Stakes at Aqueduct. Drafted, who finished third to Elite Power in the Grade 2 Vosburgh on Oct. 8, most recently finished fifth, beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Runninsonofagun in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler on Oct. 29.
“He ran a winning race last time getting beat a length and a quarter,” Duggan said. “We’ll take a swing at this and the next one [the Toboggan on Jan. 28] and go from there.”
A large field was expected to be entered Monday for the Gravesend, including Amundson, Bezos, Greeley and Ben, Little Vic, Morello, Synthesis, and Three Two Zone. Beren, Smooth B, and Twisted Ride were entered in the Gravesend as well as other similar stakes at Parx and/Laurel.
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