Salutation preps at Galway Downs for career debut
DEL MAR, Calif. – Salutation, a 2-year-old colt by Medaglia d’Oro, has been prepared differently for his career debut on Saturday than the majority of the juveniles who will start at the Del Mar meeting.
In recent weeks, Salutation has been in training at Galway Downs in Temecula, Calif., which has been a training center for Southern California Thoroughbreds since earlier this year. Trainer Jim Cassidy said on Thursday that he has a small stable at Galway Downs and has had success starting those horses at Santa Anita and Los Alamitos, winning with two of three runners.
Salutation, owned by Deron Pearson, was acquired for $350,000 at the 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale. The colt has quick recent works and a promising future, Cassidy said. One concern is the race’s distance of five furlongs. A longer race would be preferred.
“He’d probably like 5 1/2” furlongs, Cassidy said. “There’s no concern about fitness. He’s a big, good-looking horse and has some talent.”
Salutation is part of a field of eight that includes Go Long, who was a troubled fourth in his debut at Santa Anita on June 19 for trainer Keith Desormeaux.
There are two five-furlong maiden races for 2-year-olds on Saturday.
Pearson and Cassidy start Dare to Believe, a More than Ready colt, in the third race, the first division. Dare to Believe has been based at Galway Downs in recent months. In the third race, trainer Bob Baffert starts Toews On Ice, a colt by Archarcharch who worked quickly at Santa Anita in June.