Off impressive debut, Dazzle d'Oro targeting Saratoga Special

The 2-year-old colt Dazzle d’Oro sent his trainer, Tom Amoss, traveling back in time. Amoss thought about when he first came to Churchill Downs in the early 1990s, and a conversation with the late Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Lynn Whiting.

“He told me if you ever have a horse work five-eighths from the gate in under a minute, you’ve got a runner,” Amoss said.

Dazzle d’Oro, who had breezed through the spring at Keeneland, moved to Churchill and had his first work there June 11, going five-eighths from the gate in 59.80. And, yes, he is a runner.

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Dazzle d’Oro ran to his work and his 9-5 favoritism, beating 10 maidens while making his debut June 29 at Churchill. Going straight to the lead under Jose Ortiz, Dazzle d’Oro never had an anxious moment, winning by three over Blackout Time, who had almost eight lengths on the third-place finisher. He clocked 1:08.65 for six furlongs, which yielded a strong 84 Beyer Speed Figure.

“So often with first-time starters you have a horse make a mistake at the gate. We just wanted a clean break and a fair shot, and he performed well,” said Amoss, who thinks Dazzle d’Oro can run farther and rate off the pace. “We never entertained the idea, he was just speedy. He’s got a great mind. As Jose says, he listens really well.”

A $250,000 yearling purchase, Dazzle d’Oro, by Bolt d’Oro, campaigns for Robert Delaney Jr.’s Late Night Stables, and connections have designs on the Aug. 2 Saratoga Special. Dazzle d’Oro will join Amoss’s Saratoga string sometime next week.

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