Takaful, Mr. Crow may have date in Vosburgh Stakes
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
ELMONT, N.Y. – Takaful and Mr. Crow, two of the more-talented 3-year-old sprinters on the grounds, could meet in the Grade 1, $350,000 Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont Park on Sept. 30, their connections said Friday.
Takaful, who finished second to Practical Joke in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens at Saratoga after an impressive allowance win up there opening day, is also being considered for the Grade 2, $250,000 Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 6. Takaful’s trainer, Kiaran McLaughlin, said the allowance conditions of the Phoenix are enticing – meaning his horse would get a weight break – but the Grade 1 status of the Vosburgh makes that weight-for-age race attractive. Takaful won his career debut by 8 1/2 lengths at first asking here last fall.
On Friday, Takaful returned to the work tab for the first time since the Jerkens, breezing a half-mile in 49.43 seconds over the Belmont training track.
McLaughlin has repeatedly said Takaful is not easy to train. He comes out late in the morning. After backing up to the seven-furlong pole on the training track, Takaful jogged slowly to the 3 1/2-furlong pole before breaking into a gallop and then getting into his work at the three-furlong pole. He was four to five paths off the rail for the move and broke off in a sharp 11.51 seconds for the opening eighth. His exercise rider sat quiet on Takaful as he came through the stretch, and worked the colt to the seven-furlong marker.
“Happy that he’s worked, was moving well,” McLaughlin said.
McLaughlin said the next start would determine whether Takaful belongs in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 4.
Meanwhile, trainer Todd Pletcher said Friday that Mr. Crow will make his stakes debut in the Vosburgh, which like the Phoenix is a Win and You’re In race for the BC Sprint. At Saratoga, Mr. Crow won a maiden race by 11 1/2 lengths and a first-level allowance by 6 1/4 lengths, both in very fast time.
“He ran so well in his maiden win that it was tempting to look at the Allen Jerkens,” Pletcher said. “We just felt like a little more experience would do him good. But I don’t see the point in another allowance race at this stage.”
Pletcher said his other top-flight 3-year-old sprinter, Coal Front, is being considered for the Grade 3, $300,000 Gallant Bob at Parx Racing next Saturday. Coal Front was expected to work at Belmont on Saturday.
