Jose D’Angelo | Horse Racing Free Tips

Dirt Mile, Classic Under Consideration For Preakness Third Jesus’ Team

Grupo 7C Racing Stable's Jesus' Team, who finished third in Saturday's 145th Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico, has taken up temporary residence at trainer Kenny McPeek's Magdalena Farm in Lexington, KY before moving to Keeneland Friday to begin preparation for a start on the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup program.

“He will run in the Breeders' Cup, 100-percent,” said trainer Jose D'Angelo, who was scheduled to saddle two starters on Wednesday's program at Gulfstream Park West. “We just don't know what race – maybe the [Dirt] Mile or maybe the Classic. I will wait for the decision from the owners.”

McPeek, who saddled Swiss Skydiver for a thrilling victory over Bob Baffert-trained Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Authentic in the Preakness, welcomed Jesus' Team to his farm after being contacted by D'Angelo.

“Always after his races, for Jesus, I give him four or five days in a roll pen or a little paddock. At Keeneland, they don't have that. So I called Kenny McPeek and he said, 'Hey, come on, bring your horse,'” said D'Angelo, whose first Preakness starter was stabled next to Swiss Skydiver in the Preakness Stakes Barn. “He's relaxing and enjoying his days off at Magdalena Farm.

“On Friday, we'll move him to Keeneland again and start jogging and galloping him slow for a week. He'll have two or three works for the Breeders' Cup. The horse came back from the Preakness very good.”

D'Angelo saddled his first horse in the U.S. at Gulfstream Park 16 months ago after winning the trainer's title in his native Venezuela, joining his father, Francisco, a multiple training titlist in the South American country before venturing to the U.S. in 2015.

“It was an amazing experience, spending one week with the stars of training, like Bob Baffert and Kenny McPeek,” said D'Angelo, whose stable is based at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream Park's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County. “I'm very, very proud of my work and my team for the third in the Preakness. I had confidence in Jesus before the race. I knew he was in good condition.”

D'Angelo will split his time between Keeneland and Gulfstream Park West leading up to the Breeders' Cup.

The post Dirt Mile, Classic Under Consideration For Preakness Third Jesus’ Team appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Drury ‘Didn’t See A Whole Lot For Excuses’ For Art Collector

Trainer Tommy Drury Jr. looked Art Collector over Sunday morning and said the colt was in good shape coming out of Saturday's Grade 1 Preakness Stakes 145 dat Pimlico in Baltimore, Md. Bruce Lunsford's homebred son of Bernardini ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. ended up fourth, a head behind Jesus' Team.

Art Collector, the 2-1 second choice in the wagering, was Drury's first Triple Crown starter and came into the Preakness unbeaten in four starts this year.

“I didn't see a whole lot for excuses. For whatever reason he just didn't quite have that normal turn of foot that we see from him,” Drury said. “Around the first turn it looked like Brian tried to kind of get out and couldn't quite get that done. Down the backside he tried to take the same spot that Swiss Skydiver took and unfortunately didn't have enough horse to get there. No excuses at this point. We're going to take our hat off to the filly. She ran great and I'm thrilled for Kenny. We'll get back home and regroup and figure out where we want to go next.”

Drury said one of the options for the colt is the Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 7 at Keeneland.

“It certainly is a possibility, along with a lot of other races,” Drury said. “I think the big thing is to get him back home and make sure he's OK. He seems to be fine this morning.”

A minor foot injury kept Art Collector out of the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5, but he was ready for the Preakness, which Drury called “the biggest day of my life.”

“It was exciting,” Drury said. “I wish we could have ran a little better, but that being said I'm proud of my horse. He took me to a place I never got to go to before. We're going to be fine. We just need to regroup a little bit and figure out what to do next.”

Grupo Seven C Stable LLC's Jesus' Team, who finished third at 40-1, exited the Preakness in good order, said trainer Jose D'Angelo.

“I'm very happy for my horse and my team. My horse ran good. He ran a fast time in the stretch,” D'Angelo said. “Our next plan….maybe the Breeders' Cup.”

The post Drury ‘Didn’t See A Whole Lot For Excuses’ For Art Collector appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Venezuelan Native D’Angelo Following His ‘Dream’ With First Preakness Starter

Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, Jose D'Angelo saddled his first winner in the U.S. with his third starter, Beach Dreaming, on June 27, 2019 at Gulfstream Park.

The 30-year-old South Florida-based trainer will saddle his first starter in a Triple Crown event Saturday, when he will send Jesus' Team to the Pimlico racetrack for a clash with 10 other 3-year-olds in the Preakness Stakes (G1).

D'Angelo has taken the fast track to Thoroughbred racing's center stage, but he is very well aware of the high level of competition he will face in the Preakness, including Hall of Famers Bob Baffert (Authentic, Thousand Words) and Steve Asmussen (Max Player, Pneumatic, Excession).

“I have grown up watching trainers like Bob Baffert and Steve Asmussen. To be in the same race with them is very special to me,” he said.

D'Angelo learned from the best in Venezuela, being the son of Francisco D'Angelo, who won numerous training titles in his homeland while based at La Rinconada Hippodrome.

“I went to the track every day, every week, because my father was a trainer,” said D'Angelo, who began training on his own in 2012.

Success came quickly.

“I won the Clasico Simon Bolivar, the most important stake in Venezuela, with Dreaming of Gold in 2014. That's my best race until Saturday,” he said. “It was a great day because I was the youngest trainer to win the race.”

D'Angelo's training career continued to flourish, winning the training title in Venezuela in 2018.

“I decided to come to the U.S.,” he said, “to follow my dream.”

And his father, who began training in South Florida in 2015.

“My relationship with my dad is amazing. I learned all my skills from him,” D'Angelo said. “He helps me with my horses, and I help him with his horses, because we're a team.”

D'Angelo first ventured to the U.S. to saddle Venezuelan-bred Forze Mau for a second-place finish in a race on the Clasico del Caribe Internacional program at Gulfstream Dec. 9, 2017, before returning to Venezuela. Since his permanent move to the South Florida, he has saddled 29 winners from 139 starters.

Jesus' Team, who is owned by Grupo Seven C Stable, joined his barn after breaking his maiden in a $32,000 maiden claiming race at Gulfstream for another trainer March 18. The son of Tapiture romped to a 6 ¾-length triumph for a $25,000 claiming price in his first start for D'Angelo before finishing a close second in an optional claiming allowance behind graded-stakes winner Sole Volante. He made a huge jump in class to run in the July 18 Haskell (G1) at Monmouth Park, finishing fourth behind Authentic, the Preakness morning-line favorite and Kentucky Derby hero. He went on to finish second behind Preakness rival Pneumatic in the Pegasus at Monmouth and second in the Sept. 5 Jim Dandy (G2) at Saratoga.

“I think in his last three races, he didn't have any luck during the race. I think he's a horse that is getting better with his races,” said D'Angelo, whose stable is based at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream Park's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County. “I'm very sure he's going to run a good race.”

The post Venezuelan Native D’Angelo Following His ‘Dream’ With First Preakness Starter appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

After Just One Year In U.S., Trainer Jose D’Angelo Readying Jesus’ Team For Preakness

Grupo Seven C Stable's Jesus' Team arrived at Pimlico Sunday afternoon, becoming the first contender for Saturday's Preakness Stakes (G1) to step foot on the historic grounds known as Old Hilltop.

The son of Tapiture, who most recently finished third in the Sept. 5 Jim Dandy (G2) at Saratoga, arrived by van from Monmouth Park.

“He enjoyed the trip. He has in the last three months many trips. Now, it is easy for him,” said trainer Jose D'Angelo, who drove the truck towing the van carrying his stable star.

Jesus' Team took the lead in upper stretch in the 1 1/8-mile Jim Dandy before coming up 1 ½ lengths short of victorious Mystic Guide. The Kentucky-bred colt previously finished second behind Preakness contender Pneumatic in the Pegasus at Monmouth and fourth behind Kentucky Derby winner and likely Preakness favorite Authentic in the Haskell (G1) at Monmouth.

D'Angelo, a former leading trainer in Venezuela now based in South Florida, is looking forward to participating in his first U.S. Triple Crown event.

“It's very exciting. I'm very nervous, too,” D'Angelo said. “I have only one-year training in USA. It's the best race of my life. It's a great chance to show the abilities of the horse. I think we're going to have a great race in the Preakness.

D'Angelo said Jesus' Team is scheduled to jog over the Pimlico track Tuesday morning and gallop every other morning up to race day.

The post After Just One Year In U.S., Trainer Jose D’Angelo Readying Jesus’ Team For Preakness appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post