Navarro sending three in Vanderbilt

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Jorge Navarro is planning to run three horses in Saturday’s Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt at Saratoga.

Leading the trio is Delta Bluesman, who has won four consecutive races, including the Grade 2 Smile Sprint at Gulfstream Park on July 2. Navarro is also planning to run Catalina Red, the winner of the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes, and Chublicious, a winner of his last two, including the Mr. Prospector at Monmouth on June 26.

Navarro said he was originally intending to give Delta Bluesman a 40- to 50-day freshening.

“But he came back good, he’s training good,” Navarro said. “When they’re doing good, you need to run them. They could get hurt.”

Navarro said he is planning to bring Emisael Jaramillo in from Florida to ride Delta Bluesman. Jaramillo rode him to victory in the Smile Sprint.

Antonio Gallardo rode Chublicious to victories in his last two starts and will ride the New Jersey-bred gelding on Saturday. Navarro is hoping to get Javier Castellano back on Catalina Red.

Catalina Red is coming off a fourth-place finish in the True North at Belmont. Navarro said he blames himself for instructing Castellano to put the horse into the race early.

“He wants to sit and make one run,” Navarro said.

Catalina Red, Delta Bluesman, and Holy Boss will be the starting highweights in the Vanderbilt at 119 pounds. Others under consideration for the race are Anchor Down (117), Limousine Liberal (116), Requite (116), All Star Red (115), and No Hiding Place (115).