Groomedforvictory an old pro in demand
It’s hard to say which is the best race on the Thursday card at Aqueduct, a first-level allowance (race 8) or a $25,000 starter race (race 7).
Unquestionably, the most interesting horse on the program is the 9-year-old Groomedforvictory, who will debut for trainer Joseph Imperio in the starter at a mile and 70 yards.
Groomedforvictory is 15 for 53 since making his debut in November 2007. He made his first 26 starts for Barclay Tagg before being claimed for $62,000 by Richard Dutrow Jr. in February 2011.
Groomedforvictory started six times for Dutrow prior to the trainer beginning a 10-year suspension in January 2013. Groomedforvictory was transferred to the barn of Wesley Ward for one start and then moved to the stable of Michelle Nevin, who worked for Dutrow and took over a number of his horses.
Since June 2013, Groomedforvictory has been claimed seven times for prices ranging from $14,000 to $40,000. He has been trained during that time by Mike Maker, Linda Rice, Nevin, and David Jacobson.
Since November 2013, he has alternated between Nevin and Jacobson. Jacobson has claimed Groomedforvictory twice from Nevin, and she has claimed him back once from Jacobson.
None of this seems to have bothered Groomedforvictory, a winner of $716,000. Groomedforvictory comes into Thursday’s race off two straight wins over off tracks in second-level optional-claiming races here. He was entered for a $40,000 tag in both races.
Groomedforvictory won his last race Nov. 14 by seven lengths as the 8-5 favorite, and trainer Mitchell Friedman claimed him from Jacobson. The horse’s owner, the Blue Stork Stable of Rick Franco, sent Groomedforvictory and four other horses to Imperio about 10 days ago.
Imperio, who is based at Aqueduct, worked Groomedforvictory an easy three furlongs Monday.
“He’s an old pro, and he’s doing great,” Imperio said. “I gave him an easy work just to stretch his legs and to get to know him a little better. He’s a really, really nice horse.”
Imperio, 56, now has 10 horses in his barn. He has been training since 1990, and although he has won only two races this year, he is a 10 percent trainer during his career and has 336 wins.
“It’s not easy for a small outfit these days,” Imperio said. “The horses make a trainer, and I’m very grateful to Rick Franco for giving me this chance. He’s a great owner, a real action guy, and I look forward to winning some races for him.”
◗ In race 8, the first-level allowance, the top players look like Classic Sense, Giant Fox, and Celebrated Talent.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Classic Sense. Trainer Chad Brown is 13-7-2-0 with a $3.59 ROI over the past two years with last-out winners in routes on the Aqueduct inner dirt track. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Classic Sense, trained by Chad Brown, and Giant Fox, trained by Leah Gyarmati, are both coming off a victory over $50,000 starter-allowance company for nonwinners of two races.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Giant Fox. Trainer Leah Gyrmati is 34-0-3-12 over the past five years in routes with last-out winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Celebrated Talent, trained by Rice, won a $50,000 starter allowance three starts back and was beaten a nose in allowance company last out. The 93 Beyer Speed Figure he earned is the highest in the field.
Rice will be stretching out the son of Bernardini from seven furlongs to 1 1/16 miles Thursday.
“Because of his pedigree and the way he acts, I think he will like the two turns,” she said. “I’m looking forward to running him two turns on the inner track this winter.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Zander Zone. Trainer Ken McPeek is 29-2-4-1 with a $0.45 ROI over the past five years in all races on the inner dirt track at Aqueduct. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan