Viareggio stretches out for Robert G. Dick Memorial
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From a class and speed figure standpoint, Viareggio matches up in Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Robert G. Dick Memorial for fillies and mares on turf.
A Grade 3 winner in Ireland last summer, Viareggio recently finished a solid fourth in the Grade 1 Gamely at Santa Anita. Those races were at nine furlongs, and Viareggio will stretch out to 1 3/8 miles for the first time.
A pedigree analysis yields mixed results as to her potential long-distance ability. Her sire was a pure sprinter that never raced past 6 1/2 furlongs. The dam won at a mile, and the second dam scored at 12 furlongs.
Trained by Brendan Walsh, Viareggio was purchased for $470,908 in December and will make her third start in North America. In her stateside debut, she overcame an eight-month layoff to win a third-level allowance at Keeneland.
Walsh also trains Lady Rockstar, who placed in two graded races at Gulfstream before disappointing in her last two starts. Last of seven in the Grade 3 Modesty on May 5 at Churchill, Lady Rockstar removes blinkers and has a prior victory at 1 1/4 miles.
Distance won’t be an issue for the two runners saddled by Graham Motion, who has won the Robert G. Dick eight times.
A Group 2 winner in Italy last fall, Sopran Basilea was bought for $315,000 in December. Leading into her North American debut, the Grade 3 Gallorette at 1 1/16 miles, Motion felt that distance would be too short.
“We toyed with the idea of going to Kentucky with her because we think she needs further,” Motion told Daily Racing Form before the Gallorette.
Held up at the back behind a slow pace, Sopran Basilea rallied for second and should appreciate stretching out to a more appropriate distance with a prep under her girth.
Frivole, a $163,000 purchase after hitting the board in four consecutive starts in France, took advantage of a strong pace to win a first-level allowance for Motion at Churchill going 1 3/8 miles on May 18.
Christophe Clement also entered two fillies. Parnac, a stakes winner in Germany at 2, might have found her niche going long. She successfully stretched out to this distance in a second-level allowance on June 11 at Belmont.
Ever Summer has better tactical speed than Parnac. She also won at 11 furlongs last time, but that was against a weaker first-level allowance group.
Talbeyah, Inanna’s Quest, and Deciding Vote also entered.
Lovely Princess and Miss Yearwood will scratch, per their trainers.
Alapocas Run
Lightening Larry and Beren headline a competitive edition of the $100,000 Alapocas Run for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs.
Lightening Larry captured the Mr. Prospector on May 29 at Monmouth with a career-best 94 Beyer Speed Figure.
Beren has earned $861,570 and was the beaten favorite in Belmont’s Grade 3 Runhappy Stakes on May 13.
Drafted, second in this race last year, has a puncher’s chance from the back. Stage Left, Sir Wellington, and Run Classic all have races that would make them competitive.
Twisted Ride is expected to race in Belmont’s John A. Nerud.
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