Derby hopeful Sole Volante an astute acquisition for Reeves

On his Sunday drive home following Sole Volante’s rallying victory in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3), Dean Reeves laughed at the notion he may have another 2020 Kentucky Derby prep winner simply waiting in the wings.

“Let me think about that,” he said. “We did have a couple of deals on the table that just didn’t go through. Right now, I think that’s it.”

Reeves is always looking for his next prospect to campaign with wife Patti under the Reeves Thoroughbred Racing banner. A recent deal to purchase majority interest in Sole Volante looks especially shrewd in hindsight.

A minor stakes winner on turf, Sole Volante had run third around one turn in Gulfstream Park’s Jan. 4 Mucho Macho Man Stakes in his switch to the main track. Just more than a month later, the gelded son of Karakontie donned Reeves’ colors and surged to a 2 1/2-length win at Tampa Bay Downs, defeating previously unbeaten Independence Hall.

“We watch a lot of horses that run and show some successful signs early,” Reeves said, “and, as a lot of people try to do, buy a portion of these horses that are doing well.”

Reeves and his advisor, Jay Stone, took a liking to Sole Volante early. The Patrick Biancone trainee won when debuting over the Gulfstream Park West lawn on Oct. 12, then took down Gulfstream Park’s Nov. 30 Pulpit, also on the grass.

“We watched the Mucho Macho Man and thought he ran pretty well on the dirt,” Reeves said. “So we thought this was a versatile horse.”

Stone set up a meeting between Reeves and Biancone after the third out. A couple hours later, they walked away partners, with Biancone’s daughter and assistant, Andie, retaining a share along with Sam Villardito’s Limelight Stables.

Reeves said an “important part of the deal” was keeping Sole Volante in Biancone’s care.

“Obviously Patrick’s doing a great job with him, so don’t rock the boat," he said. "We came to a win-win, I think, with everybody, and I’m glad to be part of the partnership.”

Biancone reported Sunday morning to Reeves that Sole Volante came out of the Sam F. Davis “really well.” While they’ll wait to firm up next race plans, returning to Oldsmar, Fla., for the March 7 Tampa Bay Derby (G2) is a logical option.

Sole Volante sat fifth early in the Davis, part of a second flight of horses following the trio of Premier Star, Chapalu and Independence Hall, who separated a few lengths from the rest. Not long after the half-mile time of 46.52 seconds flashed up, the dueling pace setters dropped out and Independence Hall assumed the lead.

“He ran a winning race — a great race,” Reeves said of Independence Hall.

But the odds-on favorite also may have attended too closely to the front early on. Sole Volante breezed by, while Premier Star and Chapalu faded to finish last and second to last by 29 lengths.

“Once I saw how quick we were coming around the turn and momentum (Sole Volante) had, I thought, ‘Wow, if we can get through traffic we’ll have a real shot at it,’” Reeves said.

Perhaps he’ll be saying the same thing on the first Saturday in May. Biancone once saddled Lion Heart for a runner-up finish in the 2004 Kentucky Derby, while Reeves Thoroughbred Racing counts Mucho Macho Man’s third in 2011 as its best result under the Twin Spires.