Guapaza finds good spot in River Memories
ELMONT, N.Y. – Guapaza is winless in three starts in the U.S. but has only been beaten by fillies and mares from her own barn. On Sunday, trainer Chad Brown will let Guapaza go it alone, and she looks well spotted in the $100,000 River Memories at Belmont Park.
Guapaza, a 5-year-old Chilean-bred, is expected to face just three rivals in the River Memories, scheduled for 1 1/2 miles on the Widener turf. Swear by It, entered in this spot, was expected to run in Saturday’s Robert G. Dick Memorial at Delaware Park instead, according to trainer Nick Esler.
Guapaza was a Group 2 stakes winner in Chile before being moved to Brown late last year. In three starts this year – all in graded stakes – she has finished third in the The Very One and New York stakes and second in the Sheepshead Bay. Stablemates Olorda, Sea Calisi, and Dacita are the only horses to finish ahead of Guapaza.
In the New York, Guapaza sat in second early before making the lead in midstretch but could not match strides with Dacita and Sea Calisi, losing by 1 1/4 lengths.
With no front-running types in this field, Guapaza could be the pacemaker under Javier Castellano.
Trophee could be laying closer due to the lack of pace. She is 0 for 2 at 1 1/2 miles.
“Going a mile and a half, we have some question marks, but I think she can handle it,” said Christophe Lorieul, the assistant to trainer Christophe Clement. “The only negative is the pace scenario. Being a short field, she doesn’t have to be 10 lengths out of it. She could be four or five lengths out of it.”
Joel Rosario rides Trophee from the rail.
River Memories, Race 3
KEY CONTENDERS
Guapaza, by Seeking the Dia
Last 3 Beyers: 95-91-90
◗ Has competed quite well in a trio of graded stakes in this country after going 6 for 17 in Chile.
◗ Could inherit the early lead by default in a paceless race.
◗ Trainer Brown entered the weekend with 28 wins from 101 starters on turf at this meet.
Trophee, by Mr. Sidney
Last 3 Beyers: 93-91-88
◗ Seemed to get a little timid when room got tight in deep stretch of the New York Stakes, in which she finished 1 1/2 lengths behind Guapaza when the two were third and fourth.
◗ Did finish well in winning a second-level allowance at Aqueduct in April.
◗ Half-sister to the multiple Group 1 winner Treve.