Old alliance back in action
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Earlier in his career, Joe Orseno had a very successful run as private trainer for the Stronach Stable with top runners like Golden Missile, Perfect Sting, and Macho Uno.
Their crowning moment was probably the 2000 Preakness, when Red Bullet upset heavily favored Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus.
Orseno and Frank Stronach parted company in 2002, with the trainer reopening a public stable. Lately, they have gotten back together. It started with a couple of horses last year, and Orseno now has 15 Stronach runners in his barn at Monmouth Park.
Two of them, Fidelio and Kapazunder, are entered Friday in a third-level $50,000 claimer.
Orseno didn't seem inclined to run both. Neither has started yet for him.
"These are two nice horses," Orseno said. "I couldn't get the earlier races to go that I tried to run them in, so both wound up in here. I'll take a good look at it, but I don't think I'll run both of them."
Carlos Marquez, Jr. was named on both halves of the entry.
Kapazunder has ability, as a record of 3-1-1 in 5 starts indicates. The 6-year-old, however, has never gotten into a consistent groove and has large gaps in his schedule. Kapazunder last ran in May 2008, finishing third in a third-level allowance at Woodbine.
"The Stronachs have always had a program where, if a horse needed time or needed to be treated right, they do it," Orseno said. "They will do whatever needs to be done."
Fidelio, 4, last ran in early June at Belmont Park. He went back to Stronach's Canadian farm before shipping to Orseno.
"They took him back to go over him and evaluate him," Orseno said. "They plan on racing him on the East Coast, so they sent him this way."
I Ain't No Saint also made his last start at Belmont, getting second after being forced to steady and alter course turning for home in an off-the-turf sprint. Chris DeCarlo will be aboard for trainer David Jacobson.
Code of Honor, a 3-year-old gelding trained and co-owned by William Bennett, was soundly beaten in consecutive stakes - sixth in the Grade 3 Barbaro at Delaware Park and third in the off-the-turf Jersey Derby on the Haskell Day undercard.
Completing the field are Roaring Lion, Yes It's the Truth, Mr. Madison, Heavenly Chorus, Subtitles, and Sir Silver Fox.