Vino Rosso

STRENGTHS: After a couple of disappointing performances at Tampa Bay Downs, Vino Rosso ran to his immense potential when winning the Grade 2 Wood Memorial. Perhaps the combination of a longer distance, added experience and maturity, and getting used to his new blinkers put him over the top. He seems to be peaking. Vino Rosso’s co-owner, trainer, and jockey won this race last year with Always Dreaming. It was the second Derby win for both trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez. Velazquez could have ridden Vino Rosso’s stablemate Audible, but he chose this colt over the Holy Bull and Florida Derby winner. Vino Rosso boasts a classic pedigree. His sire ran third in this race and was one of the best pure 1 1/4-mile runners in the last 15 years. His dam is a halfsister to the long-winded Commissioner, a Grade 2 winner at 1 1/4 miles and a close second in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes.

WEAKNESSES: He’s been inconsistent at times, seemingly running in spots when possibly compromised by slow paces in both the Sam F. Davis Stakes and Tampa Bay Derby. While he ran a complete race in the Wood Memorial, he was aided in that prep by fast fractions up front. He seemed uncomfortable racing in between horses in the Davis (without blinkers), and it will be interesting to see how he fares in a 20-horse field.

BETTING VALUE: Vino Rosso has lots going for him. He’s in good form, owns a versatile running style, and has strong bloodlines and connections in his corner. Odds between 12-1 and 15-1 seem fair as horses such as Justify, Magnum Moon, Mendelssohn, and others attract the headlines. – Dan Illman

SIRE: Vino Rosso is among the colts looking to keep alive the classic streak for Curlin, who has produced a classic winner or classicplaced runner from each of his first five crops. These runners all followed in the footsteps of their long-winded sire. Curlin competed with distinction in all three 2007 Triple Crown races, highlighted by his victory in the Preakness over Street Sense, and won four Grade 1/Group 1 events at the classic distance of 1 1/4 miles, taking the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic, 2008 Dubai World Cup, and two editions of the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

DAM: Mythical Bride, by Street Cry and out of a stakes-winning daughter of Belmont Stakes winner Touch Gold, scored her only win at a mile. The mare’s classy female family has displayed highend ability both routing and sprinting. Mythical Bride is a halfsister to the long-winded multiple graded winner Commissioner, a close second in the 2014 Belmont Stakes, and to graded stakes winner and Breeders’ Cup Sprint runner-up Laugh Track.

OUTLOOK: Vino Rosso, who continues to develop, is from a line with classic ability on both sides. – Nicole Russo