Ultimate Love training toward 3-year-old debut
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Ultimate Love, the top turf juvenile in the Mid-Atlantic region last year, is back in training at Fair Hill and could soon make her 3-year-old debut for trainer Michael Trombetta.
The Florida-bred filly spent her winter break back home at Live Oak Plantation, but Trombetta always planned to bring her to Maryland ahead of the turf season up north.
“[Live Oak] was very happy to give her a couple months’ downtime,” Trombetta said. “They got her started and they said she was right back into things, like she hadn’t had much of a break or rest. They were very happy with her.”
In a span of three races between Laurel Park and Colonial Downs last year, Ultimate Love demonstrated that she was one of the best 2-year-old turf fillies in the country. After commanding wins in maiden and allowance company, she made her stakes debut in the $125,000 Selima in September and powered away by four lengths.
Trombetta chose the boldest step next in October, entering her with a strong chance in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. A tepid 7-2 favorite in the deep field of 12, she was bumped throughout the race but still ran on to finish fifth, beaten three lengths.
It has been nearly five months since the filly’s last start, as Trombetta and Live Oak wished to give her a long break ahead of her 3-year-old campaign. On March 21, she completed her second published workout since returning to Fair Hill, running four furlongs on the all-weather training track in 49 seconds, the fastest of 25 horses at the distance that morning.
The trainer did not mention a target race for her, but several stakes at Aqueduct and Laurel could prove ideal in April and May.
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