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11.03.2000
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Photo By: Jeremy Lyverse
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Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel (above), is confident Edmund A. Gann's Medaglia d'Oro, who is named for a brand of Italian espresso, is poised for a big effort in the $750,000 Wood Memorial (GI) on Apr. 13 at Aqueduct Race Course in Ozone Park, N.Y. "I'm thinking he'll run pretty good in the Wood," Frankel said. "I don't think we'll need a killer race but I need to get
a line on him. If he improves like he did between his second and third races, we'll be in pretty good shape." |
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Frankel Confident Medaglia d'Oro Ready To Step Up Again In Wood
April 10, 2002
By, Jenny Kellner
ELMONT, N.Y. (April 10, 2002) - He's only run three times, but
Medaglia d'Oro is one solid effort away from earning himself a spot
in the Kentucky Derby (GI). And Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel figures he'll do just that
in the $750,000 Wood Memorial (GI) on Apr. 13 at Aqueduct Race Course in Ozone Park, N.Y. "I'm thinking he'll run pretty good in the Wood," Frankel said from California. "I don't think we'll need a killer race but I need to get
a line on him. If he improves like he did between his second and third
races, we'll be in pretty good shape."
And what an improvement that was. After winning his second start - a
maiden race at Oaklawn Park - Edmund Gann purchased the colt and put
him in Frankel's barn. Good move.
Three-and-a-half weeks later, Medaglia d'Oro, with Hall of Famer
Laffit Pincay, Jr. aboard, was the upset winner in the $250,000 San
Felipe Stakes (GII) on Mar. 17 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. He beat U S S
Tinosa by 2 1/2-lengths, with favored Siphonic third. In his first start
beyond six furlongs, the son of El Prado covered the 1 1-16-miles in
1:41.95.
"I was very surprised by the San Felipe," Frankel said. "They ran
by him like that (around the far turn) and I thought he was dead. I was
shocked when he came on again."
Medaglia d'Oro, named after the Italian espresso of the same
name, was scheduled to arrive in New York late Wednesday (Apr. 10), while Frankel
will be in town for the races.
"I thought about running him in the Blue Grass (GI), but I love New
York," he said. "I'm grateful to the people in New York."
Medaglia d'Oro could end up as the second betting choice in a
likely field of eight 3-year-olds, with Saarland, trained by Shug McGaughey,
perhaps taking on the favorite's role.
The draw for post positions will be Thursday at 11 a.m.
In other Wood news:
Trainer Todd Pletcher expects Nokoma to rebound after an
inexcusable seventh-place finish in the Florida Derby (GI) on
Mar. 16. The colt galloped 1 1/4-miles at Aqueduct on Apr. 10, the same
track, where as a 2-year-old, he was beaten a neck by Saarland in the Remsen
Stakes (GII).
"I've got a lot of respect for Saarland and I like my horse,"
Pletcher said. "If we don't fire, we'll take our ball and go
home."
Kinsman Stable's Blue Burner walked the shedrow on April 10 after
Tuesday's work - five furlongs in 1:01 flat at Belmont Park.
"He looks fine," trainer Bill Mott, looking for his first Wood
win, said. "He's doing good."
Blue Burner was third in the Fountain of Youth (GI) and
second in the Florida Derby. Mott says his colt can handle the 1 1/8-miles in the Wood Memorial.
"Distance won't be a problem for him," Mott said. "He's a
closer. That's his style. We've just got to hope there's enough pace
in
the race."
Sunday Break, owned by Koji Maeda of Japan, trotted on Apr. 10,
two
days after working six furlongs in 1:15 2/5. The Forty Niner colt is
looking for his fourth consecutive win. He is trained by Neil
Drysdale,
who took the Wood route in 2000 with Fusaichi Pegasus, who went on to
win the Kentucky Derby.
Buddha, owned by Gary and Mary West, galloped 1 1/2-miles over
the Belmont Park training track. He'll likely need a win in the Wood Memorial to earn
a trip to the Derby. "He's got to win a stakes to show he belongs with
the top three-year-olds," trainer H. James Bond said.
Jenny Kellner is one of the most respected, multi-faceted journalists in New York. She served as the New York Islanders beat writer for the New York Times and has covered Thoroughbred horse racing and professional football for several major publications in the Big Apple and beyond. She is a frequent contributor to a myriad of Thoroughbred racing trade publications and has covered numerous Kentucky Derbys and Breeders' Cups.
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