Trainer
Tom Albertrani will be well-represented at Aqueduct on Saturday, with West
Point Thoroughbreds Belle of the Hall in the Grade 1 Gazelle and the
very promising Buffum headed to the Grade 2 Remsen.
Belle
of the Hall, third in the Grade 1 Test at Saratoga
this summer and most recently winner of an overnight stake on October 27 at Belmont
Park,
will stretch out beyond seven furlongs for the first time in the Gazelle.
“She’s
doing well, and the Gazelle looked like a good spot for her,” said Albertrani,
who pointed out that it will actually be her second start around two turns. She
finished ninth in the $400,000 Charles Town Oaks on September 18, a
seven-furlong race run around two turns.
“The
race at Charles Town was her only poor performance, and she came back fine. We
don’t know what happened in that race, but we’re going to try to stretch her out
next weekend.”
Albertrani
will saddle Darley Stable’s Buffum for the Remsen, one of the final major
juvenile graded stakes remaining on the calendar.
The
Bernardini colt’s debut at Belmont
Park
on October 30 was one of the most impressive juvenile performances of the year.
After stalking a brisk pace, he took the lead into the stretch and held on
gamely to prevail by a nose, completing the mile over the main track in 1:36.85.
His
victory earned him a 96 Beyer Speed Figure. The only three juveniles with a
faster Beyer this year are Breeders’ Cup Juvenile 1-2 finishers Uncle
Mo
and Boys At Tosconova, along with the probable Remsen favorite To Honor and
Serve, who like Buffum is an offspring of Bernardini.
Buffum
had his final tune-up for the Remsen on Saturday, breezing five furlongs in
1:00.94, second fastest of 12 workouts at the distance over the Belmont
main track.
“His
workout went very well,” said Albertrani, who also trained Bernardini. “His
first race was very good, and he came out of it in great shape. We thought he
deserved a shot in the Remsen.”