Mission accomplished for Girolamo, who yesterday picked up
his first Grade 1 victory when he won the Vosburgh by 2 ½ lengths.
Girolamo entered yesterday’s race
having won last year’s Grade 2 Jerome Handicap, but owner Godolphin Stable was
eager to further bolster his resume before the well-bred 4-year-old by A.P.
Indy out of the Mr. Prospector mare Get Lucky is retired to stud.
“We wanted to enhance his value,”
said Rick Mettee, assistant to trainer Saeed bin Suroor. “That’s why we left
him in training this year.”
With Girolamo exiting the Vosburgh
in good shape, Godolphin will now point the colt to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on
November 6 at Churchill Downs.
“He’ll go in the six-furlong
race,’ said Mettee. “We have multiple horses who could go in the Dirt Mile, so
we’re likely to send him to the Sprint.”
Girolamo’s victory in Vosburgh was
the first North American Grade 1 success in 2010 for Godolphin, which hours
later added a second Grade 1 score when Hibaayeb captured the Yellow Ribbon at
Oak Tree.