Azpurua Takes Chance With Ravelo's Boy

At 83, trainer Manny Azpurua has been around the racing game all his life, winning more than 3,500 races in his native Venezuela before relocating permanently to the United States in 1979.

Asked why he brought Ravelo’s Boy, a 50-1 long shot in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, all the way from Florida for the race, the soft-spoken but affable Azpurua always has the same answer.

“You have to try, my friend,” he said.

Ravelo’s Boy jogged once and galloped once around the 1 ½-mile main track Thursday morning under exercise rider Enrique Barcenas. The Belmont will be the Lawyer Ron colt’s first start outside of Florida.

“He’s doing very, very good,” Azpurua said. “I’m pleased with the way he handles the track. My boy said he has the perfect stride and is doing everything right. He came back like nothing happened. I told my owner, he’s coming into the race in top shape. We’ll see what happens.”

Azpurua has never saddled a starter in the Belmont, though his brother, Leo, ran seventh with Sir Sir in 1977, when Seattle Slew became the only undefeated Triple Crown champion. I’ll Have Another is seeking to become the 12th horse to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont, and first since Affirmed in 1978.

“I don’t like to take a chance if I don’t have some kind of good feeling,” Azpurua said. “I’m feeling that way. I bring horses that sometimes they say, ‘That trainer is crazy.’ But every time I come to the big races, I’ll be there.”

Azpurua ran third in the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Sprint with multiple stakes winner Nightmare Affair, and fourth in the 1998 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies with Extended Applause.

Alex Solis will ride Ravelo’s Boy for the first time in the Belmont.