Weaver holds all the cards with trio in Joseph A. Gimma
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ELMONT, N.Y. – It may not be ideal to run three horses in the same race, but with limited options for New York-bred juvenile turf sprinters, trainer George Weaver finds himself with a trio of contenders for Friday’s $175,000 Joseph A. Gimma Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Belmont Park.
Weaver said Extravaganzoo, Tiger Line, and Boomesherang all deserve the opportunity to win a stakes race and this 6 1/2-furlong race is the most logical spot to attempt just that.
Extravaganzoo, a daughter of Golden Pal, is the most experienced of the group having already raced three times. In her second start, she was quite impressive beating New York-breds at Saratoga by 3 3/4 lengths on July 16. Extravaganzoo then finished third, 2 3/4 lengths behind Go for Launch, in the open-company Bolton Landing on Aug. 26.
“Her maiden was obviously more impressive, but I wasn’t that disappointed with the Bolton Landing,” Weaver said. “You’re always hoping to win, but [Go for Launch] was pretty impressive. I think Tyler [Gaffalione] said he should have just gone on with it, but that’s neither here nor there, we were third best on the day. Now, we’re back running against New York-breds, she’s been working well, she’s got talent.”
Extravaganzoo, who breaks from the rail, will be ridden for the first time by Manny Franco.
Franco did ride Tiger Line to a front-running debut victory on Sept. 4 at Saratoga. The only two horses to have run back out of that race have both won.
Weaver expects Tiger Line to be forward under Kendrick Carmouche.
“We expected her to be quick, she looks quick, she is quick,” Weaver said.
Boomesherang beat maidens going five furlongs over the synthetic track at Presque Isle Downs in July. Trained by Ron Potts Jr. then, she was soon moved to Weaver who had her entered in the P.G. Johnson Stakes on Sept. 3 at Saratoga. Boomesherang reared up in the gate and was scratched on the advice of the track veterinarian.
“We’ve taken her to the gate a lot, she’s been very good from what I’ve seen,” Weaver said. “She’s legit, especially for a New York-bred. If she can get over the starting gate, I think she would have a chance.”
Gold Fashioned, a daughter of Golden Pal trained by Jena Antonucci, won her debut by 2 1/2 lengths on Sept. 2 at Saratoga. Antonucci didn’t think Gold Fashioned was fit enough to win first time out.
“Sometimes things work out,” Antonucci said. “She’s definitely fitter this time. She’s been really good, came out of it great, and has kept moving forward.”
Legacy Lady, a second-out winner at Monmouth, finished fourth in the Skidmore Stakes on Aug. 27 at Saratoga. Trainer Jorge Delgado is adding blinkers to her equipment Friday. Cafe Rose, a debut winner at Canterbury Downs, and Frosty Blaze a maiden after two starts, complete the field.
Bertram F. Bongard
If Calling Mr. Mo can run as well short on the turf as he did long then, despite his maiden status, he could very well be the horse to beat in the $175,000 Bertram F. Bongard Stakes for New York-bred 2-year-olds scheduled for 6 1/2 furlongs on turf.
Calling Mr. Mo, a son of Mo Donegal, was soundly beaten in his debut on dirt July 31. He came back with a pace-pressing second in a 1 1/16-mile maiden race on Aug. 26. House of War, who defeated Calling Mr. Mo, looks like one of the contenders in Saturday’s Pilgrim Stakes at Belmont.
“Called a bit of an audible, he’s been ready to run for several weeks,” trainer Miguel Clement said. “It’s not the saltiest bunch, so we decided to take a shot. Only reservation is six and a half [furlongs] may be a touch too short. We don’t anticipate the turf course to be speed favoring judging by the amount of rain we had. I think he’s got a bit of talent.”
The Elmont area received more than three inches of rain from the weekend nor’easter that forced the cancellation of two weekend cards.
Soldier’s Glory, trained by Antonucci, won his debut by a head on Sept. 20 and is wheeling right back in part due to the fact he is one of only three winners in this seven-horse field.
“He came out of the race well and is doing well, otherwise we wouldn’t be running back,” Antonucci said. “Don’t know we saw the bottom of him that first start, feel comfortable coming back in short order.”
Road Show, a son of Roadster trained by Mark Casse, will transition to the turf after winning a six-furlong dirt race Aug. 15. Scalene won a low-rated maiden turf sprint at first asking.
Maidens Mendel, Saratoga Tea, and Cuylle complete the field.
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