Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
El Deal likely to meet plenty of early speed in Vosburgh
ELMONT, N.Y. – In putting together a three-race winning streak, El Deal has run the competition off their feet from the outset. That tactic could be more difficult to employ Saturday when El Deal encounters several other early-speed types in the Grade 1, $350,000 Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont Park.
Still, trainer Jorge Navarro says he’s not going to change strategy now, especially with a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 4 at Del Mar on the line.
“I’m going to get out of his way, let him do what he’s supposed to be doing,” Navarro said Thursday. “Why change now when we’re sitting on a target – the Breeders’ Cup. Hopefully, we get a good break and [Javier] Castellano can break and go.”
El Deal is 3 for 3 since being moved to Navarro earlier this year. Those three wins include an eight-length victory in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt at Saratoga when he went unchallenged on the lead. The complexion of that race changed when race favorite A. P. Indian scratched.
The six-furlong Vosburgh features two fast 3-year-olds in Takaful and Mr. Crow, both of whom had good summers at Saratoga. Takaful won a sixfurlong allowance race in a fast time and finished second in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens. Mr. Crow won a six-furlong maiden race by 11 1/2 lengths and won a first-level allowance going seven-eigths by 6 1/4 lengths.
Navarro said Mr. Crow “looks like the real deal.” Of Takaful, Navarro said “there’s no telling how fast he is. Does he have the speed that I have?”
A speed duel could set things up for Stallwalkin’ Dude or Celtic Chaos. Stallwalkin’ Dude was third, beaten a neck, in this race in 2015 and second, beaten a length, last year. Celtic Chaos is stepping out of New York-bred competition for the first time in his 21st career start.
Green Gratto, 1 for 16 at Belmont, and Weekend Hideaway, third in last year’s Vosburgh, complete the field.
The Vosburgh goes as race 7 and is the first leg of an allstakes pick four that concludes with the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch.
KEY CONTENDERS
El Deal, by Munnings Last 3 Beyers: 112-102-102
◗ Navarro noted that Castellano liked El Deal’s workout last Saturday at Belmont better than he did the work at Saratoga before the Vanderbilt, a race he dominated by eight lengths.
“He wasn’t very pleased with the work in Saratoga, but this time when he worked him he had a big smile on his face and that made me feel good,” Navarro said.
◗ Does pick up nine pounds from his last race.
Stallwalkin’ Dude, by City Place Last 3 Beyers: 89-97-88
◗ Would be a major benefactor if a pace duel develops.
◗ Has run good enough to win this race in each of the last two years.
◗ Blew out a quick three furlongs in 36.31 seconds Wednesday.
“That was the best move he ever had for me,” trainer David Jacobson said. “And that was on his own.”
Mr. Crow, by Tapizar Last 3 Beyers: 104-109-99
◗ Has run fast in all three of his races, but now steps into stakes company for the first time.
◗ Did not switch leads in his victories at Saratoga, but has done so in each of his last two workouts.
Celtic Chaos, by Dublin Last 3 Beyers: 90-95-92
◗ Always seems to come with a run and will definitely benefit from a fast pace.
◗ Does face the toughest field he’s met to date.