Shake Em Loose, Joe meet once again in Federico Tesio
Shake Em Loose and Joe, the one-two finishers in last month’s Private Terms, head a field of nine 3-year-olds in Laurel Park’s $125,000 Federico Tesio on Saturday.
The 1 1/8-mile Tesio is one of four stakes along with the Weber City Miss for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles, the Heavenly Cause at one mile for fillies and mares, and the Frank Y. Whiteley for 3-year-olds and up at seven furlongs.
The Tesio winner receives an automatic berth into the Preakness if Triple Crown nominated. The winner of the Weber City Miss qualifies for the Black-Eyed Susan.
Claimed last fall for $16,000 by trainer Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon, Shake Em Loose has subsequently won 3 of 4 starts, including two stakes. He won the Private Terms by 1 3/4 lengths.
Shake Em Loose captured his last two races with strong middle moves. Sanchez-Salomon said Thursday morning he would like jockey Charlie Marquez “not to move too early this time. He got a little tired out of that race [Private Terms] but is doing awesome.”
Joe had a three-race win streak snapped when second as the Private Terms favorite.
“He ran a good race. He just didn’t win,” trainer Michael Trombetta said.
Joe has lead change issues, but Trombetta believes “it’s a developmental thing and he’ll get it figured out.”
Trombetta also saddles Mr Jefferson, who faced Kentucky Derby prospects Mo Donegal and Zandon when fourth in the Remsen last fall.
Mr Jefferson then finished sixth in the Jerome, but Trombetta believes he didn’t appreciate the sloppy track. Trombetta mentioned the colt “bled a little bit” when beaten by Early Voting in the Withers on Feb. 5. Mr Jefferson receives Lasix on Saturday.
South Street, a homebred owned by Pam and Marty Wygod, made his first three starts in California before being transferred to Bill Mott. South Street grabbed a nine-furlong maiden special weight on Feb. 24 at Aqueduct.
“The reason Mr. Wygod sent him here was that he couldn’t get any longer races to go,” said Mott’s New York-based assistant Leana Willaford. “He was adamant the horse needed to run 1 1/8 miles.”
Secret Alliance, a maiden winner sprinting Feb. 21 at Parx Racing, stretches out for trainer John Servis, but has the pedigree to appreciate longer distances. The Curlin gelding is a half-brother to stakes-winning router Stronger Than Ever. Secret Alliance is expected to set the pace.
Vine Jet, Smarten Up, Baltimore Bulleit, and Noneedtoworry complete the field.
Weber City Miss
Luna Belle will start as the deserving prohibitive favorite in the Weber City Miss.
The Maryland-bred filly has won her last four races, all in stakes for trainer Hamilton Smith.
Luna Belle has never been two turns, however.
“She handled the mile” in the Beyond the Wire Stakes on March 19, Smith said. “I don’t see anything that makes me think she wouldn’t go a mile and a sixteenth.”
Smith admitted that Luna Belle “went a little quicker early than I wanted to” in a six-furlong breeze March 19 but doesn’t feel that will adversely affect her chances.
Trainer Michael Stidham admitted it will be tough to beat Luna Belle, but expects Chardonnay to be forwardly placed, if not outright on the lead.
Abidale, Khuluq, Click to Confirm, and Zawish also are entered.
Heavenly Cause
Stidham is excited to see Pennybaker make her North American debut in the Heavenly Cause.
Winless in her first six starts on turf in France, Pennybaker turned it around when switched to synthetic. She ended her 2021 campaign with four victories, including the Prix Miss Satamixa on Dec. 20.
A daughter of Medaglia d’Oro out of a full sister to Frosted, Pennybaker has a dirt pedigree.
“The idea was to bring her over and see how she would handle dirt,” Stidham said. “Her works are good.”
Pennybaker hasn’t raced since the Miss Satamixa, but Stidham said “fitness-wise is no problem.”
Fille d’Esprit earned 90-plus Beyers in her last two, including an authoritative victory in the Conniver on March 19.
Miss Leslie should get a quick pace to attack. The consistent filly has hit the board in her last five races.
Trainer Horacio De Paz sends out Sharp Starr and Shalimar Gardens. Sharp Starr finished fourth in Aqueduct’s Heavenly Prize on March 6.
:: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances – the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures
“No real excuses for her,” De Paz said about the race. “I wasn’t necessarily pointing for this, but she’s doing well, and the next New York-bred stakes isn’t until April.”
Sweet Willemina, Finding Fame, Flight to Shanghai, Primacy, Hashtag Lucky, Artful Splatter, and Moma Tiger also are entered.
Frank Y. Whiteley
War Tocsin, second at 48-1 in the General George on Feb. 19, starts as one of the contenders in a competitive Frank Y. Whiteley. War Tocsin has only won 3 of 38 starts but banked $280,463 for trainer Uriah St. Lewis.
Sir Alfred James scratched from last week’s Commonwealth at Keeneland.
“Should be a little softer, and we get another week’s rest,” trainer Lynn Cash said.
Borracho, Youngest of Five, Threes Over Deuces, Disco Pharoah, Mohaafeth, and American Patrol are expected. None would be a surprise.