Woodslane Farm's Wolfie's Dynaghost capitalized on the weather conditions on Saturday, besting a seven-horse field of optional claimers by two lengths in a 1 1/16 mile-contest that was moved off the turf at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.
The effort marked the second win in three career starts for the sophomore Ghostzapper colt, who won his debut going seven furlongs in November over an off Aqueduct track in his only race as a juvenile. After being elevated in class in the 1 1/8-mile Grade 3 Peter Pan on May 8 at Belmont, Wolfie's Dynaghost ran fifth over a fast track.
Wolfie's Dynaghost was set to make his first start on turf before the weather altered plans. Instead, the Kentucky homebred earned a personal-best 87 Beyer for his win over the sloppy and sealed Big Sandy, improving to 2-for-2 on off tracks.
“He came out of it in really good shape and I thought it was a very impressive race out of him,” trainer Thomas Albertrani said. “We weren't quite sure what his preferred surface is. He's won twice on wet tracks. The Peter Pan was a bit of a head-scratcher; we don't know if it was the dry track he didn't prefer or maybe we were throwing him in the deep end. We always felt he had a lot of talent, but maybe it wasn't the right race to prep him up to.”
Wolfie's Dynaghost is a half-brother to stablemate Sadler's Joy, a four-time graded stakes-winner on the turf. Albertrani said he wanted to see if Wolfie's Dynaghost might agree with running on the grass but will likely keep him on the main track for now.
“I still have my doubts whether he might be a grass horse or not, but I think going forward, we'll probably run him back on the dirt again until he runs a bad run and then maybe change surfaces again and try the turf,” Albertrani said. “In the Peter Pan, he was galloping along on the lead and threw in the towel early. That's why we were a little confused and thought maybe the switch to turf might have been the way to go. But he showed yesterday that he does run well on a wet track as well, so we'll see what's in store next. We'll definitely try the dirt until he runs a bad one.”
Sadler's Joy has been unlucky with the weather, with rain and the prospect of soft turf preventing him from racing since finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Pan American on March 27 at Gulfstream Park. Despite rain over the weekend at Belmont, Albertrani said the forecast for Monday's holiday card at Belmont should be dry, allowing the 8-year-old veteran to compete in the 1 1/2-mile $150,000 Grand Couturier over the Widener turf.
“Luckily, it looks like tomorrow will be a good day for the turf, hopefully we don't have any more rain in the forecast,” Albertrani said. “He's doing well. We're looking forward to getting him back on track. He runs well fresh and he always tries. Hopefully, we get a little racing luck with him.”
Sadler's Joy, set to make his 37th career start, has won graded stakes in 2017, 2018, and 2019 and he crossed the wire first in the 2020 Grade 2 Bowling Green at Saratoga before being disqualified and placed fourth for interference.
Albertrani was set to run Sadler's Joy back in the $400,000 Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup going two miles on June 4. Inclement weather forced him to skip that contest but a start in the inaugural running of the Grand Couturier could set up a return engagement during the 40-day summer meet at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. that commences July 15 and runs through Labor Day, September 6.
Sadler's Joy drew post 3 in the 10-horse field on Monday and is listed at 5-1 on the morning line with Jose Ortiz set to ride.
“He does well fresh. I was looking forward to running him in the Belmont Gold Cup with the two miles, but the rains came and we already know he doesn't like soft turf, so we didn't want to try him there,” Albertrani said. “Hopefully, he does well there and we can look forward to Saratoga with him.”
The post Albertrani Gets Win With Wolfie’s Dynaghost, Prepares Sadler’s Joy For Monday’s Grand Couturier appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
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