THE PUMA - Carson Blevins for Agentes 305
The Puma has been down this road before.
When the colt takes his spot in the starting gate for the $1 million, Grade 1 betPARX Pennsylvania Derby on Saturday, it will be a three-week turnaround for the son of Essential Quality.
In the Aug. 29 Travers Stakes, The Puma finished fourth.
Trainer Gustavo Delgado and his son and assistant Gustavo Jr. took a few weeks to evaluate the colt and, after he worked four furlongs (:51.88) at Saratoga Race Course last Friday with Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano aboard, they decided to enter.
The Puma ran one of his best races in the Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park March 28 where he lost by a nose to Commandment. That came three weeks after he won the Tampa Bay Derby.
“There is nothing you can complain about, energy wise,” Delgado Jr. said. “Everything seems to be in place. He is eating everything and is showing us all the signs you would look for. Coming back in three weeks? When he did it in the Florida Derby, it was his best race.”
Before the Travers, The Puma, owned by OGMA Investments, High Step Racing, TCC Stables, YNG Stables and JR Ranch, last ran in the Grade 1 Haskell at Monmouth Park July 18 and he was fourth in his first race since the Florida Derby. He went to Louisville as one of the favorites in the Kentucky Derby but was forced to scratch the morning of the race because of swelling in leg.
In the Travers, he finished a length behind Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo.
“The Travers was a good race for him,” Delgado Jr. said. “Tough race, tough competition. He showed he belonged with the group. Now, of course, we are aware this won’t be easy. This is a Grade 1 and it’s a million bucks.”
The Puma, the 4-1 second choice in the field of 11, drew post six. He will be equipped with blinkers for the first time in his seventh start. His lone win is the Tampa Bay Derby.
He cuts back from 1 1/4 miles in the Travers to 1 1/8 miles in the Pennsylvania Derby.
“This is a horse that likes to rate,” Delgado Jr. said. “He didn’t seem like he was stopping in the Travers, the horses in front of him never slowed down.”
Delgado Jr. said The Puma will ship to Parx from Saratoga either Friday or Saturday morning.
– Tim Wilkin
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