Sole Volante returns to turf in Tropical Park Derby

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – After taking part in two legs of the 2020 Triple Crown, Sole Volante will close out his 3-year-old campaign going back to arguably his preferred surface, the turf, when he faces nine rivals including likely favorite Colonel Liam in the $75,000 Tropical Park Derby.

The 1 1/16-mile Tropical Derby is one of three turf stakes Saturday at Gulfstream Park, along with the Tropical Park Oaks – the filly counterpart to the Tropical Derby – and the grueling two-mile Allen Jerkens.

:: Enhance your handicapping with DRF’s Gulfstream Park Clocker Report

Sole Volante began his career at 2 with back-to-back victories on the grass, winning his maiden at Gulfstream Park West and the one-mile Pulpit by two lengths here last November. Trainer Patrick Biancone, whose daughter Andie owns Sole Volante with Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, opted to try the son of Karakontie on dirt to launch his 3-year-old season. Sole Volante rewarded the team with three strong efforts, including a 2 1/2-length victory in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs and a second-place finish as the even-money choice four weeks later in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby.

Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic interfered with Sole Volante’s itinerary at that point, pushing the Triple Crown races well into summer and fall. He won an allowance here at a mile on June 10, but never factored when wheeling back just 10 days later in the Belmont Stakes, finishing a distant sixth behind winner Tiz the Law. He was similarly ineffective in the Kentucky Derby, finishing 11th, beaten nearly 17 lengths by winner Authentic.

Biancone said of Sole Volante’s Kentucky Derby performance: “Nobody was really coming from behind, although he didn’t really have an excuse, he just wasn’t good enough that day. We gave him a break after that and he’s come back well, trained well, although he’s probably only 80 percent fit. But he’s ready to run and I believe he’s more a grass horse than a dirt horse anyway.”

Colonel Liam has not started since finishing fourth after being bumped hard at the start against a very strong field in the Saratoga Derby Invitational on Aug. 15. That race produced the winners of the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby, Grade 1 Belmont Derby as well as the Grade 2 Hill Prince.

Colonel Liam made his first two starts on dirt before switching to the turf to win a first-level allowance race in impressive fashion, with a 100 Beyer Speed Figure, on July 22 at Saratoga. He is one of two horses trainer Todd Pletcher entered in the race, along with Summer to Remember, who finished third in the Grade 3 Kitten’s Joy here in January and makes his first start since running sixth in the Audubon in June at Churchill Downs.

“He was compromised at the start of the Saratoga Derby, made a big run but just couldn’t quite pull it off, although he proved his quality we saw in the allowance race on grass,” said Pletcher. “He’s come back and trained very well and acts like he’s ready to perform well off the layoff. I would love for him to earn his way into the Pegasus Turf with a big performance on Saturday.”

Trainer Mike Maker will counter the two likely favorites with four starters, led by Fancy Liquor, who altered his usual running style when rallying from far back to a half-length victory in the Grade 2 American Turf at Churchill Downs on Sept. 5. In his most recent start, Fancy Liquor wound up in an unexpected pace duel with stablemate Don Juan Kitten, holding gamely before dropping a half-length decision to the late running Ever Dangerous.

Don Juan Kitten, second beaten a head in the Grade 3 Saranac last summer at Saratoga, will also compete for Maker in the Tropical Park Derby along with Me and Mr. C and Angelus Warrior.

Completing the field are Dack Janiel’s, who switches to grass after finishing third against older horses in the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at Keeneland, By Your Side, and Fighting Seabee.

Tropical Park Oaks

Speaktomeofsummer and Stunning Sky, who finished one-two, a head apart, in the Grade 2 Lake Placid last summer at Saratoga, renew acquaintances in a wide-open Tropical Park Oaks.

Speaktomeofsummer rallied to overtake Stunning Sky in the final furlong of the 1 1/8-mile Lake Placid. It was the third win for Speaktomeofsummer, whose best performance since the Lake Placid was a second-place finish in the Grade 2 Sands Point in October at Belmont Park.

:: Click to learn about our DRF's Free Past Performance program.

Stunning Sky came back to get the better of Speaktomeofsummer when finishing second in the Saratoga Oaks in August as a prelude to her first graded stakes victory in the Grade 3 Valley View at Keeneland. She returns locally off a fourth place finish as the 3-2 favorite in the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere at Churchill Downs, a race switched from the turf to a fast main track.

“I was really surprised she was favored when the race came off the turf last time,” said trainer Mike Maker. “Even though she won her maiden on the dirt, I really didn’t think she liked it that much, and for once I guess I was right. I’m delighted to have her back on grass for this race.”

Other key contenders in the Oaks include Vigilantes Way, recent stakes winner American Giant, More Than Usual, and Maker’s second entry in the race, Ask Bailey.

Allen Jerkens Stakes

The ability to stay two miles will be the key to the Allen Jerkens.

Focus Group is the class of the field and showed his mettle going 1 5/8 miles when capturing the John’s Call at Saratoga during the summer of 2018. The highlight of his 2019 season was a victory in the Grade 2 Pan American at 1 1/2 miles over the turf here. Focus Group was transferred from trainer Chad Brown to Christophe Clement, and in his only start for Clement ran seventh in the Pan American here in March. Focus Group runs as a gelding for the first time on Saturday.

Tintoretto is another who has had success at longer distances, having won a stakes going 1 1/2 miles in his native Germany in 2019. He also finished fourth, beaten seven lengths, in the 1 3/4-mile San Juan Capistrano at Santa Anita when making his U.S. debut in January.