Midnight Cello extends Vitali's hot hand

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Marcus Vitali completed a big week when Midnight Cello splashed to an easy victory in a Thursday allowance race, defeating a stakes-quality group that included Palatine Hill and Sr. Quisqueyano. Five days earlier, Vitali sent out his Grade 1 winner Lochte to win The Vid Stakes.

Vitali also had won an allowance race with another of his graded stakes winners, Valid, the previous Thursday.

Midnight Cello, who finished second in Calder’s Grade 3 Miami Mile Handicap during the spring, was the 10th straight horse to hit the board for Vitali over the last 12 days of racing.

Vitali said Midnight Cello probably is best on dirt, but that he also has run well on grass.

“Today, he handled the slop well, too,” Vitali said Thursday. “He’s just a racehorse – he’ll run anywhere, over any surface. We had a great week this past week. I’m just happy to be back in Florida.”

Vitali came to south Florida several years ago after spending most of his career racing around the New England area, primarily at Suffolk Downs, which will close its doors at the end of this month.

“It kind of tugged my heart when I heard the news,” said Vitali. “I still own and maintain a farm in Massachusetts. It’s sad for everybody in New England who raced there. It’s home, you know. I was lucky. I had the opportunity to make a move. My dream was always to race in south Florida. I made the move at the right time. It’s unfortunate for all my colleagues who are still racing back home.”