Duarte opts to strike while hot with Subrogate in Vanderbilt

The connections of the up-and-coming sprinter Subrogate have called an audible and will run in Saturday’s Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga instead of Sunday’s $150,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash at Laurel, trainer Jorge Duarte Jr. said Monday.

Duarte had planned to cross-enter Monday for the De Francis, but, after consulting with owner Rich Santulli of Colts Neck Stables, the decision was made to run in the Vanderbilt. He was not entered in the De Francis.

“The horse is doing very well and numbers-wise, if we repeat, we are right there so the boss wants to take a shot,” Duarte said.

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Subrogate drew post 5 of 6 in the Vanderbilt, a field topped by Skelly and Baby Yoda.

Subrogate gets the services of Irad Ortiz Jr. in the Vanderbilt “which is attractive,” Duarte said.

From April 12 to June 29, Subrogate won three allowance races – two at Aqueduct and one at Saratoga – including a third-level event by six lengths in which he earned a gaudy 106 Beyer Speed Figure.

A son of Arrogate, Subrogate is 4 for 4 in races at 6 1/2 furlongs or shorter.

Skelly, who won three stakes at Oaklawn this year and was second in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint in Saudi Arabia and, most recently, the Aristides at Churchill Downs. Baby Yoda is 4 for 6 at Saratoga including the Grade 2 True North last month.

Nakatomi, who beat Baby Yoda in an allowance race here last summer, and Mid-Atlantic based runners Twisted Ride and My Buddy B complete the field.

Twisted Ride was cross-entered for the De Francis. As of Monday, trainer Michael Moore said no decision has been made on which race Twisted Ride will run.

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