Wildcat Red at Saratoga to Prepare for Forego
Multiple graded stakes winner Wildcat Red galloped once around the main track Thursday morning as he begins preparations to run in the Grade 1, $700,000 Priority One Jets Forego August 29.
Owned by Honors Stable Corp., the 4-year-old son of Grade 1-winning sprinter D'wildcat arrived Wednesday afternoon from Monmouth Park, where he has remained since winning the six-furlong Teddy Drone Stakes August 2.
The win was Wildcat Red's first since the Quality Road Stakes last June at Gulfstream Park and just his second start since being injured finishing fifth in the Sunshine Millions Classic January 17.
"It was an easy ship. He does everything right," said Nick Galati, assistant to Gulfstream Park-based trainer Jose Garoffalo. "We were very happy with his last race. He dug in, he was between horses. That's Red, fighting to get to wherever he's going first. As always, he made us proud."
Wildcat Red became a millionaire with his most recent victory, adding to a resume that includes wins in the Grade 3 Hutcheson and Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, a second in the Grade 1 Florida Derby and a third in the Grade 1 Haskell last year.
Stabled in the barn of Gulfstream Park neighbor Jena Antonucci, Wildcat Red is scheduled to work Saturday morning with jockey Jose Lezcano aboard. Last summer at Saratoga, the bay colt was compromised at the break by hitting the starting gate and wound up fifth in the Grade 1 King's Bishop.
"We're very excited to be back. He loves it here, and we love Saratoga," Galati said. "We didn't get a good shot last year. We had no luck, but he loved it here. Hopefully, Red will be vindicated this year."
Source: NYRA Communications