Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Hofburg faces short field in Curlin
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Bill Mott hopes that taking a step back in company in July will mean two steps forward against Grade 1 runners in August for his highly regarded 3-year-old Hofburg.
Resisting the temptation to enter Hofburg in Saturday’s Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes, Mott and owner Prince Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farms will use Friday’s $100,000 Curlin Stakes as Hofburg’s prep for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 25 at Saratoga.
Mott has thought since the beginning of the year that the Travers would be Hofburg’s time to shine. The horse came to hand a bit earlier than expected, winning a 1 1/8-mile race at Gulfstream and running a good second to Audible in the Grade 1 Florida Derby in a span of four weeks in March. The latter result earned him enough points to qualify for the Kentucky Derby, where Hofburg, with trouble, finished seventh.
Hofburg then finished a respectable third in the Belmont Stakes, 2 1/2 lengths behind Justify, who completed his Triple Crown with that victory.
“The fact you come out of those races in good order and are still standing I think is good,” Mott said. “It seems like from what I can tell it didn’t hurt him any, and he gained a lot of experience.”
The Curlin is restricted to horses who have not won a graded stakes going longer than a mile this year, making it an easier spot than the Jim Dandy. The Jim Dandy drew only a fivehorse field, with Flameaway and Vino Rosso the only ones to have won graded stakes beyond a mile.
Six were entered in the Curlin, but Reride was rerouted to the Jim Dandy by trainer Steve Asmussen.
Madison’s Luna, the winner of the Grade 3 Hutcheson at six furlongs, could show speed from post 2 under Julien Leparoux. One of Linda Rice’s two horses – American Lincoln or Nicodemus – also could be close to the front.
KEY CONTENDERS
Hofburg, by Tapit Last 3 Beyers: 97-90-94
◗ In his lone victory he overcame post 11 going 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream Park and coming off a six-month layoff.
◗ He has put together a solid string of works since the Belmont.
Nicodemus, by Candy Ride Beyers: 80-67
◗ He was purchased privately by Avram Freedberg and Lawrence Boichman after he failed to meet his reserve at a sale of horses of racing age this month.
◗ Comes off a maiden win at Ellis Park in his first start around two turns.
“He’s out of a mare [Leah’s Secret] that made quite a bit of money running long on the dirt,” Rice said. “Broke his maiden at Ellis Park, so it’s a big step up in competition, but I think he’s got the pedigree to back it up, and I think deserves a chance in there.”
Zing Zang, by Tapit Last 3 Beyers: 86-75-82
◗ Trainer Steve Asmussen said this horse has put out more in the mornings than in the afternoons. He is 1 for 9 and has competed in five graded stakes.
“We’ve put him in some pretty tough spots, but he does have a habit of saving himself,” Asmussen said. “Maybe this is what he’s been saving himself for.”