Maiden Forevamo merits respect in Jean Lafitte
Trainer Al Stall Jr. is not one to run a horse out of line, so when he steps the maiden Forevamo up into stakes company for Saturday night’s $200,000 Jean Lafitte at Delta Downs, it’s cause for a handicapper to pause. Forevamo could end up going off as the favorite as a $320,000 auction buy who owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure.
“We thought we’d be live in this spot, and it certainly looks like he is to me,” said Stall.
The Jean Lafitte, for 2-year-olds at a mile, offers its winner first preference into next month’s Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot. A field of nine is set, including Runaway King, sixth in the Grade 2 With Anticipation at Saratoga, restricted stakes winners Icy Gentleman and Zackarooney, and Churchill Downs maiden winner Twenty and Four.
As competitive as the field is, Forevamo will garner much of the attention. A son of Uncle Mo, Forevamo was bought as a 2-year-old in training at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. auction in April.
“We had to fight tooth and nail to get him,” said Stall, who said David Ingordo purchased the horse on behalf of Brittlyn Stable. “He’s a beautiful Uncle Mo. The Uncle Mo’s, they’re running like crazy. He’s just a very pretty Uncle Mo, very similar to his sire.”
Jean Lafitte, Race 9
KEY CONTENDERS
Forevamo (Last 2 Beyers: 69-65)
He launched his career Aug. 22 at Saratoga and finished fourth in a maiden special weight at six furlongs. In his only other start, Forevamo ran second as the favorite in a maiden special weight at seven furlongs Sept. 26 at Churchill Downs.
“He ran a good race at Saratoga, and he ran a decent race at Churchill,” Stall said. “[Jockey] Corey Lanerie commented he didn’t think he liked the racetrack that much at Churchill.”
Forevemo was then sent to a division Stall has in Louisiana.
“We shipped him down to Fair Grounds three weeks ago, so he’s been down in south Louisiana a while,” Stall said. “All we have to do is jump across I-10 to Delta. It’s not a big, long ship from Kentucky. We took advantage of the way our stable is set up.”
The Jean Lafitte will be the two-turn debut of Forevamo.
“He’s been pretty strong and steady in his first two races,” Stall said. “If you look at him, he’s a big, long, stretchy colt. He went six [furlongs] and seven, so he’s going six to seven to eight [furlongs], kind of a gradual little stretch-out, so the foundation is there for it.”
Colby Hernandez has the mount from post 6.