Tag: venezuela

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.

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‘The MLB Of Racing’: Venezuelan Native Camacho Living The Dream With 2020 Derby Mount

Samy Camacho left Venezuela in 2012 to chase a dream – a dream that will become very real when he rides Tampa Bay Derby (G2) winner King Guillermo in Saturday's Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs.

“This is the dream for every jockey in my country – to ride in the United States. This is the MLB of racing. When you're here, that's your dream – to ride the big races and ride in the Kentucky Derby,” Camacho said. “That was my dream. I never thought I'd ever ride in the Kentucky Derby, and when I won Tampa Bay Derby, I said, 'Wow!'”

Camacho, among the leading riders during the Spring/Summer Meet at Gulfstream Park, shares a dream of participating in the Kentucky Derby with fellow Venezuelan natives Victor Martinez and Juan Carlos Avila, King Guillermo's owner and trainer, respectively.

Martinez lived his boyhood dream during 16 Major League Baseball seasons with the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians as a catcher, first-baseman and designated hitter, making five All-Star appearances. Martinez, who retired from baseball in 2018, has turned to raising cattle at his 2,500-acre ranch in Okeechobee, FL and owning a few racehorses, most notably King Guillermo, who is trained by Gulfstream-based Avila, who won nine titles and more than 3,000 races in Venezuela before venturing to South Florida in 2018.

“The owner, Victor Martinez, I have a good relationship with him. He's a really nice guy. He has a lot of class. He's humble. He's amazing,” the married father of three said. “Thanks to God for letting me ride in the Derby. Thanks to Victor Martinez, the owner, and the trainer, Juan Carlos Avila, for giving me this big opportunity.”

The son of a jockey, Camacho began his career at La Rinconada in Caracas, Venezuela after attending the country's jockey school and moved on to the U.S. at the end of 2011. He won 32 races in 2012 as an apprentice while riding at Calder Race Course (now Gulfstream Park West) and several mid-Atlantic racetracks. He returned to Venezuela in 2013 before resuming his dream job in the U.S., riding at Tampa Bay Downs at the tail end of 2015.

The 33-year-old journeyman has ridden with success at both Tampa Bay Downs and Gulfstream Park, winning more than 650 aces over the past five years – none more rewarding than King Guillermo's 4 ¾-length victory in the Tampa Bay Derby March 7.

“I'm so happy. It's so exciting what is happening with my career. I'm ready,” said Camacho, who also guided King Guillermo to a second-place finish behind Nadal in the May 2 Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park. “My horse has been working great at Churchill.”

Camacho will spend Derby Week at Churchill Downs as required under Covid-19 protocols.

“I'll try to take some mounts beginning Sept. 1 to ride before the Derby,” he said. “I want to get to know the track.”

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Antonio Sano Readying Pair Of Promising 2-Year-Olds For Saratoga Meet

Trainer Antonio Sano started making plans for the upcoming Saratoga Race Course meet after saddling his fourth 2-year-old winner of the Spring Meet at Gulfstream Park Saturday.

The popular Venezuela native has been particularly impressed with Papetu, a five-length winner in his Saturday debut, and Hara, a filly who also graduated with a five-length victory Friday.

“The two horses are the best horses in my barn,” said Sano, who has saddled 21 winners, five fewer than leading trainer Todd Pletcher, during the Spring Meet. “I'm going to send Papetu and Hara to Saratoga.”

Papetu was always in control over his nine rivals under Leonel Reyes. Purchased by Magic Stables LLC for $80,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September sale, Papetu is by Dialed In, the sire of Sano-trained multiple graded-stakes winner Gunnevera. The first-out win hardly surprised his trainer, but the manner in which he dismissed his rivals was a bit of a revelation.

“I expected him to come from behind and close. The race came up different. It was a surprise to me,” Sano said. “He is a good horse. I told the owner that this was a very good horse.”

A day earlier, Sano sent out Hara, who scored a dominating front-running triumph in a 5 ½-furlong dash for fillies. The daughter of Hard Spun, who is owned by Briannjenn Racing LLC, was purchased for $30,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September sale.

Sano has enjoyed success in the past while sending promising 2-year-olds from South Florida to Saratoga, most notably with Gunnevera, who scored his first graded-stakes victory in the 2016 Saratoga Special (G2) on his way to earning $5.5 million.

Earlier in the meet, Sano saddled Swaggy George, a son of Not This Time, for a four-length triumph in a five-furlong maiden special weight race taken off the turf. The Sano-trained Espia, a son of Creative Cause who finished third behind Swaggy George, came right back to capture a 5-furlong maiden special weight event on turf.

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