Trombetta plotting next moves for talented pair of 4-year-olds
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Michael Trombetta plans on putting Lonesome Road and Maclean’s Rook in races at Colonial Downs next week, but doing so might require some careful thought. The 4-year-olds have risen through the ranks in remarkably similar fashion, but the trainer doesn’t want to see them face off any time soon.
“I will try to keep those horses separate, if at all possible,” Trombetta said.
Lonesome Road and Maclean’s Rook have been nominated for the same stakes, the $150,000 Boston Handicap at seven furlongs on March 13 and the $100,000 Royal New Kent at a mile on March 14. The Boston is restricted to Virginia-bred, -sired, or -certified runners, while the Royal New Kent is for open company. Trombetta pointed out that both horses still have allowance conditions available, a path he may pursue if one of the stakes comes up too tough.
The trainer originally ran Maclean’s Rook and Lonesome Road on turf, but both dramatically improved when they eventually switched to dirt at Laurel. Maclean’s Rook rocketed home to a 6 1/4-length allowance victory on Oct. 31, while Lonesome Road earned his maiden victory by 8 1/2 lengths on Dec. 26.
Maclean’s Rook, further along when he switched surfaces, won another allowance in December before coming up three-quarters of a length short behind Quint’s Brew and Blue Kingdom in the $100,000 Jennings. A heavy favorite on Feb. 12, he suffered another close defeat in an allowance.
“He ran hard last time,” Trombetta said. “I’m not 100 percent sure, but maybe the prior race run against the likes of Quint’s Brew might have taken a little out of him.”
Lonesome Road has only run once since his maiden score, stretching out to a mile for a 6 1/4-length allowance victory Jan. 23. The seven-furlong Boston could be the perfect spot for the Virginia-bred, as his stablemate has shown more ability going longer.
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