Collazo, Bullet Gone Astray Enjoying Saratoga
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At 15-1, Four Horsemen Racing Stable's Bullet Gone Astray has the longest odds of eight 2-year-olds entered for Monday'sGrade 1, $350,000 Hopeful, the last stakes on closing day of Saratoga Race Course's 40-day meeting.
He and Gulfstream Park-based trainer Henry Collazo arrived from south Florida on Tuesday, and have spent the week getting accustomed to the surroundings. Stabled with trainer John Kimmel, Bullet Gone Astray galloped Saturday on the main track under exercise rider Raymond Bulgado.
"He went to the track Wednesday and jogged. Thursday, he galloped. Friday, he galloped. Today, we went to the gate and moved a little bit down the lane.Tomorrow, we'll jog," Collazo said. "He loves the track here. Ray said he can't even feel him switch leads. He doesn't even feel him hit the ground. He floats over it."
A bay son of Gone Astray, Bullet Gone Astray is unbeaten in two starts, winning a five-furlong maiden at Gulfstream June 28 and cruising to a nine-length victory in the Mountaineer Juvenile August 1. He will break from outermost post 8 under regular Florida-based rider Luca Panici.
"He's a pup. He loves being petted. He has such a great personality and temperament. The only time he blows up is when he gets a rider on his back, and he's as talented as he is kind," Collazo said. "He's just a very intelligent horse with I don't how much talent. We'll find out more on Monday."
Collazo is no stranger to Saratoga, having spent a summer here as an assistant to Steve DiMauro, Sr. This will be his first stakes starter at the Spa.
"I've been here about a half a dozen times; I just never had the opportunity to run in the big race," Collazo said. "I expect to run good Monday; he's that caliber of horse."
Collazo's lone career graded stakes win came with Mucho Mas Macho, who upset the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale Stakes in 2013 at odds of 41-1. Sent off at 8-1 in his unveiling, Bullet Gone Astray was favored in his stakes debut.
"Regardless of the outcome, I look at it as I've already won. I'm here. I got through the door. Now, it's just a question of getting a piece of cake," he said. "The reality is, whatever happens it's still a winning effort."
He and Gulfstream Park-based trainer Henry Collazo arrived from south Florida on Tuesday, and have spent the week getting accustomed to the surroundings. Stabled with trainer John Kimmel, Bullet Gone Astray galloped Saturday on the main track under exercise rider Raymond Bulgado.
"He went to the track Wednesday and jogged. Thursday, he galloped. Friday, he galloped. Today, we went to the gate and moved a little bit down the lane.Tomorrow, we'll jog," Collazo said. "He loves the track here. Ray said he can't even feel him switch leads. He doesn't even feel him hit the ground. He floats over it."
A bay son of Gone Astray, Bullet Gone Astray is unbeaten in two starts, winning a five-furlong maiden at Gulfstream June 28 and cruising to a nine-length victory in the Mountaineer Juvenile August 1. He will break from outermost post 8 under regular Florida-based rider Luca Panici.
"He's a pup. He loves being petted. He has such a great personality and temperament. The only time he blows up is when he gets a rider on his back, and he's as talented as he is kind," Collazo said. "He's just a very intelligent horse with I don't how much talent. We'll find out more on Monday."
Collazo is no stranger to Saratoga, having spent a summer here as an assistant to Steve DiMauro, Sr. This will be his first stakes starter at the Spa.
"I've been here about a half a dozen times; I just never had the opportunity to run in the big race," Collazo said. "I expect to run good Monday; he's that caliber of horse."
Collazo's lone career graded stakes win came with Mucho Mas Macho, who upset the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale Stakes in 2013 at odds of 41-1. Sent off at 8-1 in his unveiling, Bullet Gone Astray was favored in his stakes debut.
"Regardless of the outcome, I look at it as I've already won. I'm here. I got through the door. Now, it's just a question of getting a piece of cake," he said. "The reality is, whatever happens it's still a winning effort."
* * *
Ralis was not one of two horses nominated to the Hopeful for West coast-based trainer Doug O'Neill, but the son of Square Eddie will get the nod for O'Neill in the seven-furlong event for 2-year-olds.
A Reddam Racing homebred, Ralis commenced his career on May 22 at Santa Anita Park, when he finished fourth in a 4 ½-furlong dash. Stretching out a half-furlong for his second start, the bay colt ran away with a five-furlong maiden race on June 13 at Santa Anita.
Ralis then made his stakes debut in the Summer Juvenile Championship on July 12 at Los Alamitos, but finished a disappointing fifth as the 8-5 favorite. Sent off at 7-1 in his next outing, the 5 ½-furlong Graduation Stakes for California-breds, the O'Neill trainee finished a strong second to his stablemate Mrazek, who O'Neill had initially pointed to the Hopeful.
"We're so excited to come there with a Reddam homebred," said O'Neill. "We're so proud of all the Square Eddies, and ecstatic to bring one and really feel like we have a chance.
"We were going to come with Mrazek, but he was a little body sore after his work so we gave him a little vacation," O'Neill added.
Though he hasn't raced beyond 5 ½ furlongs, Ralis has shown improvement as he's stretched out in distance. O'Neill believes his charge is ready to take another step forward going seven furlongs.
"He's tall and good looking," said O'Neill. "We've always felt he was a two-turn horse, so seven-eighths should be perfect as he ascends in class.
"I believe he could be a [Breeders' Cup Juvenile] horse, but he's going to tell us on Monday," he added. "When Mrazek went to the bench, it didn't take us long to consider sending Ralis. We're expecting a big effort."
Source: NYRA Communications
Source: NYRA Communications
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