Grupo 7C Stable’s Jesus’ Team (Tapiture), third in the GII Jim Dandy S. and fourth in the GI TVG.com Haskell Invitational S., will be supplemented to the GI Preakness S. Oct. 3 at Pimlico. The decision was made, said trainer Jose D’Angelo, after the $30,000 Keeneland September buy breezed a half-mile Saturday at Monmouth Park in :47.80.
“I explained to the owner the races [available] to him and he thinks the best decision was to run in the Preakness,” D’Angelo said. “He worked four furlongs very well. He’s very, very good right now, and the Preakness is a great race for us.”
D’Angelo said Jesus’ Team, named after the owner’s son, would work again next weekend at Monmouth before heading to Pimlico
Jesus’ Team broke his maiden in a $32,000 claiming event Mar. 18 at Gulfstream Park and won a claiming race May 8 before finishing second behind GII Tampa Bay Derby runner-up Sole Volante (Karakontie {Jpn}) by three-quarters of a length June 10 at Gulfstream in an allowance/optional claiming event. The bay then headed to Monmouth, finishing fourth behind GI Kentucky Derby winner Authentic (Into Mischief), in the Haskell and second in the Pegasus S., before running second in the Jim Dandy Sept. 5 at Saratoga.
“In all his races, and in all his works, I think he runs his best race last to front…only one move,” D’Angelo said. “I think that will be his best way in the Preakness.”
D’Angelo, a native of Venezuela, is the son of another Gulfstream-based trainer in Francisco D’Angelo. Francisco, a champion trainer in Venezuela, came to the U.S. in 2015. Jose worked for his father before saddling his first winner in July of 2019.
Jesus’ Team is the latest to confirm participation in the Preakness. He joins Authentic, GII Toyota Blue Blue Grass S. Art Collector (Bernardini), GIII Robert Lewis S. Thousand Words (Pioneerof the Nile), Derby third Mr. Big News (Giant’s Causeway) Pegasus winner Pneumatic, and Jim Dandy runner-up Liveyourbeastlife (The Big Beast).
Others being considered for the Preakness are: GI Belmont and GI Runhappy Travers S. winner Tiz the Law (Constitution), Belmont runner-up Dr Post (Quality Road) Jim Dandy winner Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper) and Tesio S. winner Happy Saver (Super Saver).
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