Englehart taking it slow with impressive debut winner River Dog

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Jeremiah Englehart said he is no hurry to rush impressive debut winner River Dog into stakes company.

River Dog, a 3-year-old New York-bred son of Twirling Candy, won his debut here on May 2 by seven lengths. He ran six furlongs in 1:09.05 and earned a 96 Beyer Speed Figure in the race restricted to statebreds.

His stablemate Devil Boy broke slowly and rallied widest of all to win a three-way photo for third.

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“Those are two horses I’ve been waiting on for about a year,” Englehart said. “They both as 2-year-olds showed they had a lot of potential, just had baby issues they needed to overcome and the owners gave them the time to grow up a little bit.”

Of River Dog, Englehart said, “The way he moves and travels in the mornings, we knew he was going to be a nice horse.”

Englehart said he would hope to find a first-level allowance for River Dog before the Belmont meet ends.

Meanwhile, Englehart still has high hopes for Devil Boy, who was beaten 11 1/4 lengths by River Dog.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if he ended up being as talented or even more talented as River Dog,” Englehart said. “His main issue with that race – and he’s done it in the mornings – is he’s a little head shy. The [gate] doors bothered him a little bit when they open.”

The day before River Dog won, Englehart won a second-level allowance with the 4-year-old Three Technique, who ended a seven-race losing streak with the neck victory. Three Technique covered 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.42 and earned a 96 Beyer.

“He’s just always been a really game horse. He’s always done what I asked him to do,” Englehart said. “It didn’t surprise me he won, but I wasn’t really expecting it.”

Englehart didn’t have a set spot picked out for Three Technique’s next race.

◗ Sainthood, who finished 11th in the Kentucky Derby, will likely have his next workout on the turf, and if all goes well there, he could make his next start in the Grade 2, $200,000 Pennine Ridge Stakes going 1 1/8 miles on turf here on May 29.