Wildcat Red Begins Preparations for 5-Year-Old Debut
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Photo:
Gulfstream Park Photo
Honors Stable Corp. millionaire Wildcat Red is nearing a return to the work tab as the multiple graded stakes-winning Florida-bred begins preparations for his 5-year-old debut next month at Gulfstream Park.
Trainer Jose Garoffalo had hoped to breeze the D’wildcat colt on Saturday, but said he was forced to push it back to next weekend because of the rain that hit South Florida over the past week.
“This week he skipped some days of training due to the weather, so the plan is to breeze next weekend,” Garoffalo said. “He’s doing good and he’s been training good. If everything goes right, we could be running in the Sunshine Millions Sprint.”
The $150,000 SM Sprint for 4-year-olds and up at six furlongs will be run Jan. 16 at Gulfstream. Last year, Wildcat Red emerged from a fifth-place finish in the 1 1/8-mile Sunshine Millions Classic with a back injury that kept him away from racing for nearly six months.
Five of Wildcat Red’s six career wins have come in 10 starts at Gulfstream Park, topped by victories in the Fountain of Youth (G2), Hutcheson (G3) and Quality Road Stakes and a second in the Florida Derby (G1) in 2014.
“The Classic is too far for him the first time back off the layoff, but we can run first time out in the sprint,” Garoffalo said. “He loves the track and the competition isn’t going to be too tough. I think he fits pretty good there. That’s the plan for the moment. I think I have plenty of time to get him fit for the race.”
This year Wildcat Red won the Teddy Drone Stakes at Monmouth Park and was third in the Smile Sprint (G2) at Gulfstream in his July return from the sidelines. He exits a pair of Grade 1 races in New York, finishing fourth in the Forego Aug. 29 and fifth in the Vosburgh Sept 29, before getting a break upon his return to Florida.
Source: Gulfstream Park
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