Once-beaten Chub Wagon takes on Pacific Gale in Roamin Rachel
Chub Wagon’s eight-race undefeated streak ended two weeks ago when she lugged 128 pounds over a sealed, sloppy track in the Dr. Teresa Garofalo Memorial for Pennsylvania-breds at Parx Racing.
The weight carried and the track conditions are potential reasons for her loss. Trainer Guadalupe Preciado, to his credit, makes no such excuses.
“She ran good. She ran her race,” Preciado said Saturday morning.
Chub Wagon starts as the likely favorite in Monday’s $100,000 Roamin Rachel for fillies and mares traveling 6 1/2 furlongs at Parx.
Preciado didn’t seem concerned about the quick turnaround and said, “She’s training very good right now.”
John Kimmel entered Pacific Gale after running the 6-year-old Flat Out mare exclusively in graded events this year. Grade 2 winner Pacific Gale finished fifth in her most recent start, the Princess Rooney at Gulfstream Park.
“In the last race, she was so sharp,” Kimmel said. “I wanted her to sit behind somebody, but she cut out a 1:08-and-change fraction and came up a little short. Her best races are when she got in behind some speed and got shut off a little bit. Chub Wagon has got plenty of speed, so hopefully she can sit behind that horse and have something to finish with.”
Pacific Gale recently worked on turf, and Kimmel is looking forward to running her on grass.
“We’re going to run here to give her a little something to do and probably come back in the Floral Park at Belmont” on Oct. 17 at six furlongs on turf.
Regal Retort, trained by Steve Asmussen, tries stakes company for the first time after defeating two next-out winners at Saratoga. Multiple stakes winner Honor Way comes out of a fifth-place finish in the restricted Shine Again at Saratoga. That race was her first start following a short layoff.
Bronx Beauty, cross-entered at Monmouth Park on Monday; stakes-placed Glory Dia; and B B’s Rocket also are entered.
President’s Cup
Platinum Paynter wheels back in the $100,000 Salvatore M. DeBunda PTHA President’s Cup for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf nine days after finishing last in the Grade 2 Ballston Spa.
“It was a very tough race. There was a lot of speed, and it really hurt me,” trainer Juan Vazquez said Saturday morning.
Claimed for $12,500 last fall by Vazquez and Just In Time Racing, Platinum Paynter is multiple Grade 3-placed this year.
Beautiful Lover could very well be the horse to beat. Purchased by Moyglare Stud Farm for $650,000 at the 2021 Keeneland January auction, the 5-year-old Arch mare defeated two next-out 90-plus Beyer Speed Figure winners on June 27 at Belmont Park.
Quiet Company is an underrated mare who might not have cared for yielding ground last month. Bought for $55,000 at public auction last summer by Waldorf Racing Stables, Quiet Company was stakes-placed three back.
Natoma, Misquillo, B B’s Busted, Light Up Night, Blue Shine, and Tic Tic Tic Boom are entered. Sweet Willemina and Charge Account are main-track only.