Sano sending pair of 2-year-olds to Saratoga

The 2-year-old season is in full swing at Gulfstream Park, with most local trainers having an eye squarely on the Florida Sire Series, which kicks off on Aug. 1 with the $100,000 Dr. Fager and Desert Vixen Stakes at six furlongs.

But some, like Antonio Sano, have loftier goals in mind, and are already making travel plans for Saratoga later this summer.

Sano has sent out four juveniles to break their maidens during the current session, including Papetu and Hara, who registered impressive maiden wins just 24 hours apart last week.

Papetu was purchased by Magic Stables LLC for $80,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September sale and is by Dialed In, who also sired Sano’s most notable runner, the multiple Grade 1-placed and $5.5 million earner Gunnevera. Papetu led throughout to win his debut under jockey Leonel Reyes, surprising his trainer in both the manner and ease with which he won.

“I expected him to come from behind,” said Sano. “The race came up different. It was a surprise to me.”

Papetu completed 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05.16 and received a 64 Beyer Speed Figure.

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Hara was equally impressive the previous afternoon. The daughter of Hard Spun, owned by Brianjenn Racing, was purchased at the same Keeneland sale as a yearling for $30,000. She also led from gate to wire, covering 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05.69.

With Papetu and Hara both Kentucky-breds and not eligible for the Sire Series, it was only logical Sano would look out of town for their next starts.

“These are the best two horses in my barn, so I’m going to take them to Saratoga,” said Sano, who won the Grade 2 Saratoga Special at the Spa in 2016 with Gunnevera.

Two recent 2-year-old maiden winners who will point for the Sire Series are Son of a Beast and Tamiami, both from the barn of trainer Todd Pletcher.

Son of a Beast led throughout to win his debut on Wednesday, holding off a stretch-long bid from the slower-starting Tiger to prevail by three-parts of a length in the maiden dash for Florida-breds. Tamiami used opposite tactics but with the same result, overcoming an unlucky start and rallying from far back to win while launching her career on Sunday.

Edgard Zayas, who tops the standings in quest of a second consecutive spring riding title, was aboard Hara for Sano and both Pletcher 2-year-old winners.

Another locally based runner who could be heading to Saratoga in the near future is Key Biscayne, 3-year-old daughter of Brethren whose connections are contemplating a start in the Grade 2 Lake Placid on July 19. But first things first for the steadily improving Key Biscayne, who takes on more seasoned older horses in Sunday’s $47,000 main event, carded under allowance and optional-claiming conditions at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Key Biscayne has won her last two starts, both against older rivals, the first on dirt and the most recent going a mile on the grass. She overcame the outside post in a 12-horse field of Florida-breds to register a 1 1/2-length triumph on May 23. Both wins came under Emisael Jaramillo, who has the call again Sunday from post 1.

Lovely Luvy, with Zayas up, looms the horse to fear coming off a third-place finish while making her first start since being transferred to trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.’s barn following the indictment of her former trainer Jorge Navarro on charges of administering illegal medication to horses.

Both Key Biscayne and Lovely Luvy would benefit from an honest early pace, which figures to be the case with East Coast Spring and Lady Nina among the prospective starters.