The Puma on schedule for Haskell Stakes

With White Abarrio having departed for Churchill Downs and Saturday’s Stephen Foster, The Puma is currently the big man on campus at Gulfstream Park. The Florida Derby runner-up being prepared to launch his comeback in the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 18.

The Puma, who was scratched from the Kentucky Derby the morning of the race due to a minor leg infection, has not started since finishing second, beaten a nose by Commandment, in the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 28. The heartbreaking loss came just three weeks after his victory in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby.

The Puma returned from Churchill Downs to his regular base at Gulfstream Park on May 14 and has had three works, including five furlongs in 1:01.60 on Saturday. He punctuated the drill by galloping out one mile in 1:41 flat, according to track clockers.

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“He’s definitely getting back into that form he had going into those big spring races,” said Gustavo Delgado Jr, assistant to his father, trainer Gustavo Delgado. “We were anticipating five or six works to get him ready for the Haskell and he’s had three breezes so far.

“We’re not necessarily looking for big times, we already know he’s fast, and so far everything looks great. And the logistics of keeping him right here, working over a track we know he likes with the same rider aboard each time, has proven to be the right decision.”

The younger Delgado said The Puma’s key work will come in approximately two weeks with regular jockey Javier Castellano scheduled to come down to South Florida for the drill.

“It will be his most important work and we want Javier to be aboard, to give us his opinion on how he feels he is doing at that point, since it will have been three months since his last start,” Delgado explained.

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