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Jesus’ Team, Sole Volante Reunite Sunday In Gulfstream’s City Of Dania Stakes

A lot has happened since the last time Jesus' Team and Sole Volante clashed at Gulfstream Park 13 months ago. Jesus' Team went on to become multiple Grade 1 stakes-placed while competing against some of the best horses in the world, while Sole Volante went on to run in the Belmont Stakes (G1) and Kentucky Derby (G1).

The two 4-year-olds will reunite in Sunday's $60,000 City of Dania at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., a mile overnight handicap in which Jesus' Team will carry 127 pounds, nine pounds more than the horse that had defeated him in a stakes-quality optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream June 10, 2020.

While acknowledging the disparity in weight assignments, trainer Jose D'Angelo is willing to accept the challenge for Jesus' Team first start since Grupo 7C Racing Stable's color-bearer finished sixth in the $10 million Dubai World Cup (G1) March 27.

“I think he's come along very good. He is good and sharp. I think it is a good spot for him coming off a layoff,” D'Angelo said. “I know he has to carry a lot of weight, but I think it is not a big deal.”

Jesus's Team won a $25,000 claiming race in his first race after winning a $35,000 maiden claiming race and first race after being transferred to D'Angelo. The son of Tapiture finished second, beaten by three-quarters of a length by Sole Volante, in his next start before eight consecutive stakes races. D'Angelo and Jesus' Team hit the road to face the best company in the country for the rest of the year and faring extremely well. The Kentucky-bred colt went on to finish third in the Preakness (G1) and Jim Dandy (G2) before finishing second behind Knicks Go in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Keeneland.

“For me, it was amazing. Jesus represents to me the best horse I've trained,” said D'Angelo, who was the leading trainer in Venezuela before venturing to South Florida in 2019. “He gave me the best moments of my life, professionally speaking. When you come to this country. You see all the big horses and big trainers. To have a horse that has the ability to take you there with him, it was amazing.”

Jesus' Team returned to Gulfstream to capture the Claiming Crown Jewel in his final start of 2020 before making his 2021 debut in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), in which he again finished second behind Knicks Go. Unfortunately, the D'Angelo trainee seemed to lack the same competitive spirit in Dubai.

“The race was not a good race for him. The horse wasn't training very good in Dubai,” D'Angelo said. “Sometimes that happens, and you never know.”

After enjoying some rest and relaxation and putting on some weight, Jesus' Team has produced a series of strong breezes at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, in preparation for the City of Dania.

Samy Camacho is scheduled to ride Jesus' Team for the first time since his second-place finish behind Sole Volante last year.

Patrick Biancone-trained Sole Volante will be seeking his first win in five starts since his decision over Jesus' Team last year. The son of Karakontie went on to finish off the board in the Belmont and Derby before a couple of uneventful efforts on the turf. Following a four-month break, he raced evenly to finish fourth in a mile optional claiming allowance on the main track May 22.

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Andie Biancone's gelding had established himself as a Triple Crown prospect early last year when he won the Sam Davis (G3) and finished second in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2)

Luca Panici has the return mount on Sole Volante, who will be equipped with blinkers for the first time.

Harold Queen's Noble Drama, a multiple stakes winner and fan favorite at Gulfstream; Rodney Lundock's Pro Quality, who was just a neck behind Noble Drama; Lawson Racing Stables' I'm a G Six, an impressive winner of a mile optional claiming allowance last time out; Willow Lane Stable Inc.'s Highestdistinction, who is slated to make his 2021 debut Sunday after winning his last two starts of 2020; and IAB Stables and Walter Fralick's Quenane, a veteran campaigner with 14 career wins; round out the field.

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Graded Stakes Winner Sole Volante Returns To Action Saturday At Gulfstream

Sole Volante, who ran in two legs of the 2020 Triple Crown, will be return to action in Saturday's featured optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream Park.

The graded stakes-winning son of Karakontie is slated to come off a four-month layoff in Race 10, a mile optional claiming allowance on dirt on a 12-race program highlighted by the $75,000 Martha Washington Stakes, a mile turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

“We gave him a good break and two months on the farm to give him a chance to be a horse,” trained Patrick Biancone said. “We don't expect too much. We just want him to have a good run in his first race back.”

Sole Volante distinguished himself as a strong contender on the Road to the Triple Crown in 2020 when he won the Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs before finishing second in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2). Unfortunately, the Kentucky Derby (G1), the Preakness (G1) and the Belmont Stakes (G1) were postponed until later in the summer and fall.

Sole Volante came off a three-month layoff to win an optional claiming allowance, a stakes-quality mile race in which Jesus' Team, who would go on to finish third in the Preakness and second in both the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G2), finished second. Ten days later, the gelding owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and assistant trainer Andie Biancone finished sixth in the Belmont Stakes. The Biancone trainee went on to finish 11th in the Derby after being squeezed at the start before finishing off the board in a pair of turf stakes.

“He was ready early, but like everybody, everything was delayed because of problems with COVID,” Biancone said. “He was a little bit over the top when it came the right time. In May, he was just perfect.”

Sole Volante began his career with back-to-back victories on turf in a maiden special weight race at Gulfstream Park West and the Pulpit Stakes at Gulfstream Park in the fall of 2019. He finished a promising third in his dirt and 2020 debut in the Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream prior to his strong performances at Tampa Bay Downs.

Saturday's one-turn mile race attracted a strong field of six older horses, including graded-stakes winner Trophy Chaser, who is scheduled to make a long-awaited return from a 13-month layoff. The Juan Carlos Avila-trained son of Twirling Candy, who won the 2020 Challenger Stakes at Tampa.

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No Surgery Required, But Panici Will Miss Several Weeks After Gulfstream Spill

Jockey Luca Panici, the popular South Florida-based jockey who delivered Sole Volante to the winner's circle in last year's Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs, will miss several weeks after suffering three fractured vertebrae in Saturday's 10th race at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

Panici was unseated from his mount Bourbon Highway leaving the chute in the one-mile event. According to Panici's agent, Kevin Meyocks, Panici will see a specialist in the coming days. “They say there's no surgery. He just needs time to heal,” Meyocks said.

Panici has won 724 races since coming to the U.S. from Italy, where he rode more than 500 winners. In 2020 Panici came back from two injuries, a fracture collarbone in February and two broken ribs in April.

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Sole Volante Back On Turf In Saturday’s Tropical Park Derby

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Andie Biancone's Sole Volante will regroup from the rigors of a Triple Crown campaign with a return to turf in Saturday's $75,000 Tropical Park Derby at Gulfstream Park.

The Tropical Park Derby, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds, will be accompanied on Saturday's 11-race program by the $75,000 Tropical Park Oaks, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies, and the $75,000 H. Allen Jerkens, a two-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds and up.

Patrick Biancone-trained Sole Volante will return from an 11-week freshening since finishing sixth in the Belmont Stakes (G1) and an 11th-place finish following a troubled start in the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs. Turf will hardly be foreign territory for the 3-year-old gelded son of Karakontie, who launched his career with back-to-back victories over the Gulfstream Park turf course last year.

“Even at the Kentucky Derby we were debating [about running Sole Volante on turf] because they have that race [Grade 2 American Turf} the same day. We were contemplating it,” said Andie Biancone, assistant trainer to her father, Patrick. “We know he's a turf horse. It's just because he has such a big heart that he takes to the dirt. We're really happy to get him back on turf.”

Sole Volante debuted with a three-length romp in his debut at Gulfstream Park West before coming right back to register a two-length score at Gulfstream in the Pulpit Stakes, in which King Guillermo finished third. Having shown himself to be extremely gifted and bred to run long, Sole Volante was given a chance to show what he could do on dirt with an eye toward the Triple Crown.

“When they're that good that time of year, you have to try them on the dirt,” said Andie Biancone, who was given Sole Volante by her father on her 22nd birthday. “He did really well because he has so much heart, but turf is really his preferred surface.”

Following a solid third in the one-turn mile Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream, Sole Volante stamped himself as a Triple Crown candidate with a 2 ½-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs. He earned his way into the Kentucky Derby field with a second-place finish in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2), won by King Guillermo. Unfortunately, the Kentucky Derby was postponed from the first Saturday in May to Sept. 5 and the Preakness (G1) was postponed from the second Saturday in May to Oct. 3, making the Belmont Stakes the first leg of the 2020 Triple Crown. Sole Volante prepped for the Belmont with a triumph in a June 20 stakes-quality allowance at Gulfstream, defeating Jesus' Team, who would go on to finish second in the Preakness, and Florida Derby runner-up Shivaree.

Although he wasn't at his best in the Belmont and Kentucky Derby, he provided Andie Biancone memories that will last a lifetime. Unable to travel due to an illness, Patrick Biancone entrusted his daughter to oversee Sole Volante's training at Belmont Park and Churchill Downs.

“It was really cool that my dad put that trust in me,” she said. “It was really cool. I still haven't processed it.”

Sole Volante breezed six furlongs on turf in 1:11.40 at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream Park's satellite training facility in Palm Beach Count, Sunday for his return to turf.

“I think he's training better than ever,” Andie Biancone said.

Luca Panici has the return mount aboard Sole Volante.

Calumet Farm's Dack Janiel's will also make the switch from dirt to turf Saturday to run in the Tropical Park Derby.

“It's not so much as trying the turf as it is taking advantage of the last race for just 3-year-olds,” trainer Jack Sisterson said.

Dack Janiel's is coming off a third-place finish behind a victorious Jesus' Team in the Claiming Crown Jewel at Gulfstream Dec. 5. In his prior start, the son of Tonalist showed the way to mid-stretch before finishing third in the Thoroughbred AfterCare Alliance (G2) on the Nov. 6 Breeders' Cup program at Keeneland.

Dack Janiel's has run twice on turf, finishing third at Fair Grounds in January before graduating in an off-the-turf maiden special weight race in his next start. The homebred colt didn't run on turf again until June, when he showed the way before weakening to third late at Churchill Downs.

Julien Leparoux has the call.

Trainer Todd Pletcher is scheduled to saddle a pair of Tropical Park Derby starters, Robert and Lawana Low's Colonel Liam, who was beaten by less than a length while finishing fourth in the Aug. 15 Saratoga Derby Invitational; and Waterford Stable LLC's Summer to Remember, who is twice stakes-placed over Gulfstream's turf course. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the call on Colonel Liam, while Luis Saez has been named to ride Summer to Remember.

Trainer Michael Maker is scheduled to send out four starters in the Tropical Park Derby, which drew 10 entries Sunday. Skychai Racing LLC and Sand Dollar Stable LLC's Fancy Liquor has the highest profile of the Maker quartet, having captured the American Turf on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs. In his most recent start, the son of Lookin At Lucky finished second in the Bryan Station on the Nov. 6 Breeders' Cup undercard at Keeneland. Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Don Juan Kitten and Gelfenstein Farm and Andy Blanco's Angelus Warrior, Maker-trained stablemates of Fancy Liquor, finished eighth and 10th, respectively, in the Bryan Station. Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher's Me and Mr. C., who finished fourth in the Gio Ponti at Aqueduct last time out, rounds out the Maker contingent.

Tyler Gaffalione has the mount aboard Fancy Liquor; Edgard Zayas has the call on Don Juan Kitten; Miguel Vasquez will ride Angelus Warrior; Joe Bravo has the mount aboard Me and Mr. C.

Anderson Stables LLC's By Your Side, a graded-stakes winner at Saratoga on dirt in 2019, and Walking L Thoroughbreds LLC's Fighting Seabee, who captured the With Anticipation (G3) at Saratoga in 2019; round out the field.

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