Jesus’ Team Will Be Supplemented To Preakness

Grupo 7C Stable's Jesus' Team, third in the Jim Dandy (G2) and fourth in the Haskell (G1), will be supplemented to the 145th Preakness Stakes (G1), to be run Oct. 3 at legendary Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md.

The decision was made, said trainer Jose D'Angelo, after the 3-year-old son of Tapiture 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 March 18 at Gulfstream Park and then won a claiming race May 8 before finishing second behind Tampa Bay Derby (G2) runner-up Sole Volante by three-quarters of a length June 10 at Gulfstream in a allowance optional claiming event. The colt then headed to Monmouth, finishing fourth, beaten 7 2/3 lengths, by eventual Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Authentic, in the Haskell, second in the Pegasus Stakes, and then finishing second at Saratoga Sept. 5 in the Jim Dandy to Mystic Guide.

“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 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Authentic, Blue Grass (G2) winner Art Collector, Robert Lewis (G3) winner Thousand Words, third-place Derby finisher Mr. Big News, Pegasus Stakes winner Pneumatic, and Jim Dandy (G2) runner-up Liveyourbeastlife in the field.

Others being considered for the Preakness are: Belmont (G1), Travers (G1) and Florida Derby (G1) winner Tiz the Law, Belmont runner-up Dr Post, Jim Dandy winner Mystic Guide, and Tesio Stakes winner Happy Saver.

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Learning With Experience: Hopeful Growth Wins Monmouth Oaks

Trainer Anthony Margotta, Jr. and jockey Antonio Gallardo know that much more went into Hopeful Growth's upset victory in Saturday's Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., than just a perfect trip.

Two starts ago Margotta took the blinkers off the filly to get her to relax in a race at Tampa in which Gallardo rode her. Last time out the veteran conditioner sent her two turns for the first time. She finished fifth in the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks.

Both learning experiences, they agreed, keyed a four-length victory at odds of 11-1 in the 96th edition of the $200,000 Monmouth Oaks.

Hopeful Growth, able to sit chilly along the rail behind dueling leaders, mowed down the frontrunners in the lane for the first stakes score of her five-race career. She covered the mile and a sixteenth in 1:45.63.

Delaware Oaks winner Project Whiskey held for second, 2¼ lengths ahead of Eve of War.

“I had a really good trip,” said Gallardo. “I know this filly. I won with her in Tampa. Anthony told me that day `try to teach her. I don't want her to be a filly that just goes to the lead. I don't care if you lose, just teach her.'

“That's what happened in Tampa. She learned – and she still won. I was able to put her behind horses that day and she learned very fast. When I put her in the clear that race she took off. That lesson paid off today. She's a good horse and now she knows how to relax and sit behind horses. That's why she won this.”

Margotta said the filly's last two races were learning experiences for this one.

“Her last race was the first time she ran around two turns,” he said. “We were hoping to hit the board there, but typically a horse going two turns for the first time in our program may need a race around two turns the first time. This was our bull's eye target. I took the blinkers off her last two races so she would learn a little. I put them back on (today) so she would focus more after she learned a little bit.

“The Delaware Oaks was a race we needed to get in before this one for the two-turn experience and to learn. I loved the trip (today). She was patient on the rail. That's what we have been teaching her to do and it paid off.”

Owned by St. Elias Stable, Hopeful Growth returned $25.60 to win. The daughter of Tapiture–Maiden America by Rock Hard Ten now sports a 3-1-0 line from five career starts.

“She's bred to go long and she has trained that way the whole time so I knew she would go longer,” Margotta said. “She has always wanted to stretch out.

Gallardo kept Hopeful Growth along the rail as favored Lucrezia and Project Whiskey battled for command through early fractions of :23.94, :48.51, 1:13.52 and 1:139.10 for the mile.

Hopeful Growth found clearance in mid-stretch and proved to be much the best in the field of nine 3-year-old fillies.

“I had good position the whole way,” said Gallardo. “I was close to the leaders. I had the favorite (Lucrezia) in front of me with Project Whiskey with her and the two horse (Princess Cadey) was just outside us. I just waited to get clear. I was able to do that before the quarter pole. I knew she had a lot left and she responded.”

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Bahamian Squall Filly Fastest At OBS July Sale Under Tack Finale

Hip No. 1030, a daughter of Bahamian Squall consigned by McKathan Bros. Sales, Agent, sped a quarter in :20 3/5 to post the fastest work at the distance at the sixth and final session of the under tack show for Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2020 July Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training and Horses of Racing Age.

The dark bay or brown filly is out of Up for Grabs, by First Samurai, from the family of graded stakes winner Love That Jazz.

Hip No. 983, a son of Laoban consigned by Coastal Equine LLC (Jesse Hoppel), Agent, turned in the session's fastest eighth, stopping the timer in :9 4/5. The bay colt is out of One Look, by Henny Hughes, a half-sister to graded stakes placed Before You Know It.

Two horses shared honors for the fastest three-eighths, clocked in :33 flat.

  • Hip No. 938, a 2-year-old dark bay or brown colt by Protonico consigned by Whitman Sales LLC, Agent, is out of Mongolian Changa, by Brilliant Speed, from the family of Grade 1 winner High Yield.
  • Hip No. 992, Chambers Creek, a 3-year-old bay filly by Goldencents consigned by Bobby Dodd, Agent, is out of Secret Song, by Dunkirk, from the family of graded stakes placed stakes winner Honolua Storm.

Hip No. 1021, a gray or roan colt by Anchor Down consigned by Stephens Thoroughbreds LLC, Agent, worked the session's only quarter in :21 flat. He's out of Solo Buena, by Half Ours, a half sister to stakes winner Ide Like a Double.

A pair of youngsters worked quarters in :21 1/5.

  • Hip No. 904, consigned by Ends Well, Agent, is a dark bay or brown filly by Munnings out of Medaglia d'Argento, by Medaglia d'Oro, a daughter of graded stakes winner Meribel.
  • Hip No. 960, a bay filly by Mshawish consigned by Six K's Training & Sales LLC, Agent, is out of Nanybelle, by Bellamy Road, a daughter of Grade 1-winning OBS graduate Nany's Sweep.

There were five eighths in :10 flat.

  • Hip No. 913, a chestnut filly by Congrats consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent, is out of Ministrone, by Forestry, a full-sister to stakes winner Forest Attack and a half sister to champion Riboletta (BRZ).
  • Hip No. 1022, a chestnut filly by Tapiture consigned by Q Bar J Thoroughbreds LLC, Agent, is out of Splendid Honor, by Double Honor, a half-sister to graded stakes placed stakes winning OBS graduate Crusader's Poetry.
  • Hip No. 1023, also consigned by Q Bar J Thoroughbreds, is a bay filly by Palace Malice out of Summer Rendezvous, by Forest Wildcat, a half-sister to graded stakes winner Summer Applause.
  • Hip No. 1027, a dark bay or brown colt by Distorted Humor consigned by McKathan Bros. Sales, Agent, is out of Tizacity, by Tizway, a daughter of stakes winner Vindy City.
  • Hip No. 1035, a bay colt by Orb consigned by All In Sales (Tony Bowling), Agent, is a half-brother to Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Tapizar out of Winning Call, by Deputy Minister.

The July Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training and Horses of Racing Age begins Tuesday, July 14 with Hip No's 1- 360. Hip No's 361- 720 will be offered Wednesday and Hip No.'s 721- 1114 will sell on Thursday.

To view the full results from Sunday's under tack show, click here.

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