The Puma settling in at Saratoga
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Gustavo Delgado sat in a chair outside of barn 50 Tuesday looking pretty relaxed for someone who trains horses for a living. A few yards away, his chestnut 3-year-old colt, The Puma, was attacking his hay rack.
“Right now, he feels happy, very happy,” Delgado said.
The Puma arrived in Saratoga on July 19, one day after he finished fourth in the Grade 1 Haskell at Monmouth Park. The Puma is pointing to the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers here on Aug. 29, where Delgado hopes to see the horse who gave the trainer Kentucky Derby dreams this winter and early spring.
In a span of three weeks in March, The Puma won the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby as a maiden and was beaten a nose by Commandment in the Grade 1 Florida Derby. He shipped to Louisville for the Kentucky Derby but was scratched due to a leg infection. He then shipped back to Florida, where he did his preparation at Gulfstream Park for the Haskell, which constituted another ship.
The Haskell was run over a sloppy track and The Puma raced on the inside. Neither scenario worked in his favor.
“Not a bad race – he got beat only four lengths,” Delgado said. “He didn’t like the slop or the inside.”
Delgado wanted The Puma in Saratoga right way. Delgado noted that, during the winter, The Puma shipped twice to Tampa from his Gulfstream base and then shipped to Churchill and back. Delgado believes The Puma being based at the track he’s going to run at and having six weeks between races will work to the colt’s advantage.
“It’s better for him, only have to take him right over there,” Delgado said, pointing to the main track across the street from his barn. “Saratoga, for every horse, is good. Is it the water? I don’t know. Is it the weather? I don’t know. I just know for all the horses it’s better.”