‘Saint’ Geared Up for Classic Favorite’s Role
Joseph Balsamo and Ted Theos' 4-year-old gelding Sweetnorthernsaint will have to work from the outside post in the hope that he puts his stamp on Sunshine Millions history Saturday. He's already put his stamp – literally – on trainer Michael Trombetta after kicking his conditioner in the chest Monday morning.
“I had him out grazing and he just got to feeling good,” said Trombetta Wednesday, who indicated he was sore, but not badly hurt by his prize charge’s exuberance. Trombetta went on to joke “Maybe he didn't like the way I was training him. Maybe it was the post position. Maybe that's why he was mad.”
Sweetnorthernsaint is the 9-5 morning line favorite for the $1 million Sunshine Million Classic. He will start from post 12 under jockey Ramon Dominguez, the far outside starting stall and historically a disadvantage in Gulfstream Park's 1 1/8 miles races.
“We know we're at a disadvantage,” said Trombetta. “But it's one of those things that’s out of my control, so I'm not going to worry about it. It's like the weather. I'll talk to Ramon. My horse usually likes to be forwardly placed and Ramon will have a moment or two to find a spot. I have a lot of confidence in him and I think we're going to do well.”
Sweetnorthernsaint finished third in the one-mile Hal's Hope Handicap (G3) on Jan. 6 in his first start of the year. He was seventh behind Barbaro as the beaten favorite in the Kentucky Derby (G1) last spring and finished second to 3-year-old Eclipse Award champion Bernardini in the Preakness Stakes (G2).
Trombetta's accomplished 6-year-old sprinter Weigelia, who races for Joe Balsamo, is back in training after a sixth-place finish in the Mr. Prospector Handicap (G3) here on Jan. 6.
“He's back and doing well,” said Trombetta, whose Mr. Prospector disappointment came 21 days after a victory in the Kenny Noe Handicap (G3) at Calder Race Course. “My horse is not a two-races-every-two-or-three-weeks kind of horse. He's better when he can have his races spread out a little more.
“We'll see about getting ready for a race next month. I don't want a tired horse for the rest of the year. When we head back north I hope I have a fresh horse. We'll try and get him a couple races down here.”
Swap Fliparoo Drills for Filly & Mare Sprint
Hobeau Farm's 4-year-old filly Swap Fliparoo signaled her readiness for Saturday's $300,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint with a three-furlong 35 2/5 blowout Wednesday morning at Gulfstream Park under jockey Javier Castellano.
Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens was poker-faced after the breeze by the 3-1 morning line favorite, but after walking Swap Fliparoo back to the barn, the 77-year-old trainer was working his mobile phone making sure the roan/gray daughter of Exchange Rate was fully and completely entered in the six-furlong contest.
“I just want to make sure,” he said while dialing from astride his pony. “At my age, I forget things a little faster than when I was younger.
“Swap Fliparoo does most of her running from off the pace,” he said. “(Castellano) started this work a little slower than I wanted, but that might be her. It's hard to figure sometimes whether to use a jockey for a workout or an exercise rider. You've got to handicap it right. You've got to handicap from the time you get up in the morning.”
Bob’s Proud Moment Looking for a Break in Classic
Robert Dubois’ durable 6-year-old homebred Bob’s Proud Moment shows up for his races, usually about once a month, and consistently pays his way for trainer Doug Potter, including last year when he failed to win, but still earned more than $120,000 for the season with three seconds and five thirds from 12 starts.
The Florida-bred son of Proud and True makes the 44th start of his career as a 30-1 longshot in the $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic Saturday at Gulfstream Park with jockey Rafael Bejarano aboard for the first time.
“He’s had some bad luck in several of his races, but he always shows up,” said Potter Wednesday morning from his Calder headquarters. “We’ve been trying to keep him on the turf because it’s usually easier on them, but it really doesn’t matter to him what surface. He’ll run his races on anything.
“We even found out he can go a long distance (1½ miles) last out in the McKnight (second). We were hoping the race would stay on the grass, but he ran great when it came off. In the race he got beat just a length for it all by Revved Up (Bonnie Heath Turf Cup at Calder on Nov. 11), he got shut off and trapped inside on the far turn, probably losing three or four lengths. We’re just hoping for a clean trip Saturday.”