Giacosa should get firm course for Ticonderoga Stakes
Trainer James Bond might get the course condition he desires for Giacosa on Friday when she runs in the $200,000 Ticonderoga Stakes at Belmont Park.
The 1 1/16-mile race on the inner turf is for fillies and mares bred in New York. It was to have been run last Saturday, but was moved due to anticipated wet weather. The outlook for Friday is for sunny skies and highs in the 50s.
“She likes a little bit firmer course,” Bond said. “I think a firmer course is better for her.”
Giacosa will start as a top contender in the Ticonderoga off her win in the $150,000 Yaddo Handicap on Aug. 27 at Saratoga. She’s part of a nine-horse field Friday that includes Woodbine shipper Barkin, who in her last start was third in the Grade 2 Canadian.
The Ticonderoga is one of four stakes on Friday’s card.
Giacosa races for the Bond Racing Stable operation of Bond’s wife, Tina Marie. Giacosa won her first stakes – and second straight race – in the Yaddo. One start prior, Giacosa won a two-other-than allowance, also at Saratoga. Both races were at 1 1/16 miles on turf and for fillies and mares bred in New York.
“Saratoga was very kind to her, needless to say,” Bond said of Giacosa. “Her last start was kind of her coming-out party. We always thought she could run. She’s a very honest filly. The bottom line is, she got the stakes win.”
Giacosa defeated a field that included Myhartblongstodady, the 2020 Ticonderoga winner who has since flattered Giacosa by coming back to capture the John Hettinger Stakes on Oct. 1 at Belmont. As for Giacosa, she has turned in a nice series of five-eighths works since the Yaddo.
“She’s doing well,” Bond said.
Giacosa is a daughter of Tizway, a multiple Grade 1 winner trained by Bond. Her dam is Smart Engagement, a two-time winner at 1 1/16 miles on turf.
“I had her mother, and her mother was a really nice filly,” Bond said.
Giacosa will start from post 8. Bond said tactics would be left to jockey Kendrick Carmouche.
“She’s pretty push-button,” the trainer said.
Barkin is making her first start outside of Canada. She won a 1 1/16-mile allowance over Woodbine’s synthetic main track on Aug. 13. One start later, Barkin was moved back to turf and rallied for third in the Canadian, which was run at about 1 1/8 miles on turf on Sept. 18. The Beyer Speed Figure of 89 that she earned is the best last-race number in the Ticonderoga.
Jose Lezcano has the mount for Willow Pond Stable and trainer Catherine Day-Phillips.
Ice Princess, who ran second in back-to-back stakes starts in October, is entered for the main track only on Friday.