Red Mile: I’m Some Graduate has potential for Cancelliere brothers

The Cancelliere brothers are hoping they have a potential grand circuit horse in I’m Some Graduate. The 2-year-old pacing colt will compete in one of seven divisions of the International Stallion Stake at The Red Mile on Friday afternoon.

I’m Some Graduate is the first foal of $1,305,072 earner Western Graduate, who won the Jugette in 2007. His bloodlines also include top sire Somebeachsomewhere. With a pairing of those two millionaires, one would expect that I’m Some Graduate would have gone for more than his $85,000 price tag at the 2014 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.

“He had a little turned knee and I think that is what scared people away from him,” said Tom Cancelliere, who added that it has never been an issue. “He clears with no problem and doesn’t even wear a boot.”

Like most of the young horses in the barn of Tom Cancelliere, I’m Some Graduate was brought along conservatively and didn’t make his career debut until July 13 at Pocono Downs. He was a winner that day and continued on to win four of his first five starts including a 1:50 3/5 score in the PA Sire Stakes consolation at The Meadows on September 11.

“All winter long he trained down like a nice horse, but we didn’t expect him to break as well as he did,” said the trainer.

Sent off as the 4-5 favorite in his Red Mile debut a week ago, I’m Some Graduate displayed some early speed to tuck fourth but finished just evenly in 28 3/5 to be fourth over a sloppy track that was playing very slow.

“We just took that race and threw it right out,” said Tom Cancelliere. “The conditions were bad for everybody.”

Starting from post three with Tim Tetrick in the bike, I’m Some Graduate faces a similar field in terms of talent in this Friday’s fifth race, a $67,500 event.

“Hopefully we’ll have a nice safe rest of the year with him. We’ll see how he does this weekend and if he does well, we’ll take him to Canada next weekend,” said Tom Cancelliere, alluding to the Breeders Crown races at Woodbine.

Owner John Cancelliere and trainer Tom also have a serious chance at victory with homebred Uncle Nicky in the finale on the card. A son of the virtually unknown sire Philos Hanover, Uncle Nicky has a 4-1-2-0 record in his first year of racing.

“We bought the mare to breed to Philos,” said Tom Cancelliere, who proudly explained that all three of his foals are racing.

The standout performer on the Friday card is Pure Country. Perfect in seven career starts, the 2-year-old filly pacer scored impressively at The Red Mile in 1:56 1/5 one week ago. Trainer Jimmy Takter sends out the product of Somebeachsomewhere-Western Montana from post six in the third race on the card, a $74,700 International Stallion Stake. Brett Miller will drive.

Another perfect young colt is Travel Playlist. The Erv Miller-trained son of Art Major has yet to taste defeat while competing on the NY Sire Stakes scene and is off a 1:54 3/5 victory in the state championships at Yonkers Raceway. Marcus Miller drives from post five in the ninth race.

Post time on Friday for the 10-race program at The Red Mile is 1:00 p.m.