'The Withers is the plan' for Display Stakes winner Vanzzy

Vanzzy, trained by Michael Pino for Smart Angle LLP, will enter the Grade 3 Withers off of a driving half-length score in the Display at Woodbine Racetrack.

The Verrazano bay breezed a half-mile in 49.27 seconds on January 24 on the Parx main track in his third breeze back following the two-turn score over the Woodbine Tapeta.

"The Withers is the plan," said Pino. "He worked in really good company the other day and galloped out strong. We're pretty happy with him."

Vanzzy, bred in Kentucky by Alexander-Groves Thoroughbreds, is out of the multiple stakes-winning dam Selva. He was purchased for $70,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.

"He showed good balance and was a nice looking horse. He had all the things you look for in a young horse and he looked like he would route," said Pino.

Vanzzy, who made his first three starts at his Parx base, debuted in September in a strong maiden tilt won by the undefeated graded-stakes winner Independence Hall.  He graduated at second asking in a one-mile maiden event on October 14 and was second to Mischievous Alex on November 5 in the Parx Juvenile after bobbling at the start from the inside post.

"He was inside and had a tough start, but we weren't beating the winner that day. We might have been a closer second," said Pino.

Vanzzy made all the running in the Display on December 14 at Woodbine under Patrick Husbands.

"He was first-time blinkers last time and the added ground helped," said Pino. "He's mature but he's a slow maturing horse. He's not a crack sprinter type horse. Hopefully, he can step up and learn again next out."