It might have taken a few weeks of consideration, but Lonesome Road will make his long-awaited stakes debut in the $150,000 Boston Handicap at Colonial Downs on Friday. The gelding has been one to watch on the Mid-Atlantic circuit since his maiden victory at the very end of last year.

“We took some time and freshened up a little bit over these bitter, cold winter months and he was able to train almost uninterrupted,” trainer Michael Trombetta said. “We’ve pointed towards this and trained toward it.”

Buetane

Colt by Tiz the Law – Taboo, by Forestry

Bred in Kentucky by Merriebelle Stable ($150,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling purchase by Tom McCrocklin; $1.15 million Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. spring 2-year-old in training purchase by Donato Lanni, agent for Zedan Stables)

Despite a perfect record in four steeplechases, the latest a famous race at Christmastime, The Jukebox Man is somewhat short of respect for the biggest race of his career in Friday’s Grade 1 Cheltenham Gold Cup at Cheltenham Racecourse in western England.

The Jukebox Man was the 9-2 third choice in early betting with bookmakers on Wednesday for the $838,500 Gold Cup, run at 3 5/16 miles over 22 fences on an undulating course.

WHO’S HOT

The Puma, winless in his first two starts, had a very wide trip but was able to prevail in a three-horse duel to the wire over Further Ado and Canaletto in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby. The Puma, now secured a spot in the Kentucky Derby, will have one more race, likely the Blue Grass, where he would face division leader Paladin. The Florida Derby could be possible as well.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The ninth and final race Friday at Santa Anita might offer the most attractive wagering opportunity on the card, though bettors salivating at the 9-2 morning line on a talented second-start maiden could be in for a rude awakening.

Based on his promising debut, Robin Olds’s price is too good to be true. He is not a cinch in the turf mile for maiden 3-year-olds bred in California, but anyone who watched the colt’s first start will look forward to his second race on Friday. That includes trainer Phil D’Amato.