Giacosa looks to fire fresh in Ticonderoga
Giacosa is a fresh horse coming into the $200,000 Ticonderoga on Sunday at Belmont at the Big A, and she’s proven to be effective from off the bench.
The Ticonderoga is for fillies and mares, and it’s one of two turf stakes on the New York Showcase card. City Man headlines the counterpart for males, the $200,000 Mohawk. Both races are for 3-year-olds and up over 1 1/16 miles.
Giacosa last raced in May, and won the $125,000 Mount Vernon at Belmont Park. The start was her first in six months. She will face nine others in the Ticonderoga, including Finest Work and Marvelous Maude, who finished a respective first and second in the $125,000 John Hettinger on Sept. 30 at Belmont at the Big A.
Giacosa stalked the pace and was up for a nose win in the Mount Vernon, which was run at a mile. She figures to make good use of the added ground she picks up Sunday as she won back-to-back turf races at 1 1/16 miles in 2021 at Saratoga, including the Yaddo Handicap.
Luis Saez was aboard for those wins and the Mount Vernon, and he again has the mount for Bond Racing Stable and trainer James Bond.
Finest Work and Marvelous Maude will be shortening up some from 1 1/8 miles. Both closed from off the pace in the Hettinger, with Finest Work proving a half-length best. It was the second straight win for the filly, behind a first-level allowance victory at 1 1/16 miles on turf in September at Monmouth Park.
Manny Franco has the mount on Finest Work, whose dam, Nero’s Pleasure, is a half-sister to Burning Roma, a Grade 1 winner of $1.5 million. George Weaver trains Finest Work, who is by Outwork.
Marvelous Maude won the last time she raced at 1 1/16 miles on turf, taking a first-level allowance in July at Saratoga. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount for trainer Chad Brown.
City Man leads Mohawk
City Man enters the Mohawk in sharp form, as he’s won two stakes races in his last three starts. The first score came in the Grade 3 Forbidden Apple in July at Saratoga. City Man returned to New York-bred company two starts later and won the $125,000 Ashley T. Cole in September at Belmont at the Big A.
Overall, City Man is a six-time stakes winner who has earned more than $750,000. The Forbidden Apple was a highlight, as it was his first graded win and his highest career Beyer Speed Figure, a 104. City Man earned a 96 Beyer last out in the Ashley T. Cole, and it’s the best last-race number in the Mohawk.
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Joel Rosario has the mount from the rail for trainer Christophe Clement.
City Man has tactical speed and could get a nice trip sitting off such rivals as Kingdom On Paws.
A threat through the lane could be Therapist, an earner of more than $750,000. He will break on the far outside in the field of eight Sunday. Eric Cancel has the mount for trainer George Weaver.
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