Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Seven Trumpets a bit muted
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Seven Trumpets has yet to receive the fanfare allotted other members of trainer Dale Romans’s arsenal of soon-tobe 3-year-old males hoping to jump on the Triple Crown trail. That could change Monday when Seven Trumpets kicks off his 3-year-old season in the $150,000 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct.
Though no longer graded and now run at a one-turn mile, the Jerome is the first race of 2018 that will offer qualifying points toward the May 5 Kentucky Derby. There are 17 points (10-4-2-1) awarded to the Jerome’s top four finishers.
Romans has a bevy of Derby hopefuls, including Dak Attack, Tiz Mischief, Promises Fulfilled, Hollywood Star, and Free Drop Billy. Seven Trumpets, a son of Morning Line owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, has won his last two starts after getting beat 20 1/4 lengths in his debut July 15 at Ellis Park.
“On pure talent he fits with them and he’s started to come around,” Romans said Thursday by phone from south Florida. “I always liked him. I think he’s a good horse. He’s getting better. This time of year, you want to see some progression.”
Seven Trumpets was scheduled to leave south Florida by van at 10 a.m. Thursday and arrive at Aqueduct on Friday morning. Romans is hoping to get to run Seven Trumpets on Monday, though the forecast calls for frigid conditions similar to those that prompted New York Racing Association officials to cancel Thursday’s card.
Robby Albarado, aboard for Seven Trumpets two victories, is expected to ship in to ride.
Others pointing to the Jerome include Champagne winner Firenze Fire, Honor Up, Old Time Revival, Smooth B, and possibly Millionaire Runner and Regalian.
Marconi targeting Withers
Trainer Todd Pletcher doesn’t plan to run anything in Monday’s $150,000 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct, but he is already looking forward to the Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes on Feb. 3, where he plans to run the $2 million auction purchase Marconi.
Marconi, a son of Tapit, won his maiden in his second start Dec. 15 at Aqueduct, drawing off to win by 5 1/2 lengths with blinkers added. He broke slowly, then made a strong middle move to go from last to third before having to steady at the 4 1/2-furlong marker. Tipped four wide by Javier Castellano, Marconi took control in upper stretch and drew away.
Pletcher deemed the race an improved effort from Marconi’s debut, also at 1 1/8 miles, when he was second to stablemate Biblical.
“I thought it was certainly a step in the right direction,” Pletcher said. “He’s a work in progress, has a ton of natural stamina, and that’s why we started him out at a mile and an eighth and we’ll keep him at a mile and an eighth for now. I thought the blinkers made him focus a little more. The farther he went, the stronger he was getting. He’s continuing to come around.”
Despite the cold temperatures in New York, Pletcher has elected to keep Marconi training at Belmont Park. He is likely to ship to Florida following the Withers, Pletcher said.
The Withers also is expected to attract Avery Island, the Grade 3 Nashua winner who finished second in the Remsen. Avery Island, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, is in training at Palm Meadows in south Florida.
Control Group tops Alex Robb
Control Group, winner of the Grade 3 Discovery Stakes on Nov. 25, figures to be a heavy favorite when he returns to New York-bred competition in Sunday’s $100,000 Alex M. Robb Stakes at 1 1/8 miles.
Control Group, a 3-year-old son of Posse, has won 4 of his last 5 starts, his lone loss being a runner-up finish behind Twisted Tom in the $300,000 Empire Classic at Belmont Park on Oct. 21.
Control Group, trained by Rudy Rodriguez for Michael Dubb and David Simon, was one of seven entered Thursday. The others entered were Can You Diggit, Extinct Charm, Papa Shot, Sea Raven, Testosterstone, and Wake Up in Malibu.
Strong fall meet for Mott
Trainer Bill Mott has had a solid Aqueduct fall meet with 10 winners from 48 starters, including victories from four of his last 10 runners.
Included in Mott’s recent run of success are 3-year-old fillies Boule and Great reviews and the 2-year-old filly Lemoona. While Lemoona has already been shipped to south Florida, Boule and Great reviews will likely make their next starts in New York.
Boule, a daughter of Exchange Rate, could be a candidate for the $100,000 Interborough Stakes on Jan. 15. Boule has two wins and two seconds from four starts on dirt. On Dec. 16, she won a firstlevel allowance race going a mile by five lengths and earned an 83 Beyer Speed Figure. With the Interborough being lengthened from six to seven furlongs in 2018, that race makes more sense to Mott than trying to stretch her out to 1 1/8 miles in the Ladies Stakes.
“I wouldn’t stretch her out, I don’t think,” said Mott, who called Boule’s most recent performance “a move forward.”
Greatreviews, a 3-year-old daughter of Leroidesanimeaux, won a one-mile maiden race on dirt by three-quarters of a length Dec. 7 with a 77 Beyer. Mott said he would most likely run her back in an allowance race.