Rivelli puts Strong Will on The Tabulator's stakes-winning path

The first four maiden special weight events for 2-year-olds run at Arlington International Racecourse all were won by promising Thoroughbreds that could be stakes bound in their next start.

The first three were captured by current leading trainer Larry Rivelli, who is known for his success in bringing horses to the winner’s circle for their career debut. Last Sunday, Rivelli sent out the highly regarded Strong Will to victory. In doing so, the son of Strong Mandate gave his freshman sire his first victory as a stallion.

Rivelli stated that Strong Will would likely target the $65,000 Prairie Gold Juvenile Stakes at Prairie Meadows on July 20 and from there would eye the Grade III $150,000 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs in September in preparation for the Grade I $2,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at the Louisville oval on November 2. The same route was taken with Rivelli trainee The Tabulator last year, and he ended up finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. 

Rivelli also scored a maiden special weight victory with O’Keeffe on May 27, who could target the $100,000 Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs on Saturday, June 30.

“I like [O’Keeffe],” Rivelli said. “She is really doing well.”

Both Strong Will and O’Keeffe are owned by Carolyn Wilson and were purchased from Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree Stables consignment operation at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale’s Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale this March. The former of the two was purchased for $775,000 and the latter was bought for $275,000.

Rivelli also saddled Echoes of Laughter to a maiden victory on the same day as O’Keefe. Owned by Patricia’s Hope, the Florida-bred son of Iqbaal would likely race at Gulfstream Park next out after some down time in Ocala.

“He’s a Florida-bred so I’m going to turn him out and send him to the farm for a little break,” Rivelli said. “Then we’ll bring him back for all the Florida Stallion stakes down at Gulfstream. He hasn’t left yet, but he’ll be (in Ocala).”

The next stakes race at Gulfstream Park for Florida-bred 2-year-olds is the $100,000 Florida Sire (Dr. Fager) Stakes on August 4.

Meanwhile, Mellon Patch’s Agi’s Cait could be bound for the $65,000 Prairie Gold Lassie Stakes at Prairie Meadows on July 20, according to owner George Mellon. She broke her maiden on June 22 at second asking. First time out, she finished 1½ lengths behind O’Keeffe. 

“She’s proven to be special,” Mellon said of Agi’s Cait, who is trained by Mike Campbell. “We’ll probably go to Iowa for the stakes there. They have a six-furlong race coming up in July. Then she’ll target the (Grade II $200,000) Pocahontas (at Churchill Downs). It’s a ‘Win and You’re In’ (for the Grade I $2,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies).

“Obviously we think she’s got talent so we’d like to have a shot at the Breeders’ Cup. We’ll cross our fingers and hope that we get there. She’s a beautiful horse. She’s not little, she’s a nice size and built phenomenally well as an athlete. I’m really happy with her and looking forward to a nice campaign.”

Mellon purchased the daughter of Tale of the Cat for $250,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale’s Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale in March from Ricehorse Stable’s consignment operation.

“Bob Baffert liked her,” Mellon said. “He took a good look at her and he liked her so I felt pretty happy at that point in time. She’s doing what we want her to do.”

Mellon could not be at Arlington for Agi’s Cait’s maiden victory as he was in Virginia to attend Governor Ralph Northum’s signing of a bill re-opening Colonial Downs.

“We had our official signing with the Governor of Virginia (on Friday),” Mellon said. “It was a good turnout. There were a lot of locals and state politicians. It’s a big deal. We look forward to opening in September or October of 2019 to have our first meet. We’ll run about 15 days.