Chatterpaul Likes Recent Claim Top Surprize

9/30/2011 4:01 PM  | horseracingnation.com
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A month after Naipaul Chatterpaul claimed Mission Approved for $35,000 in June, 2010, the New York-bred finished second by a neck to Gio Ponti in the Grade 1 Man o' War; a year later, he won the Grade 1 Manhattan.

Next Saturday at Belmont, the trainer is hoping that Top Surprize will follow his stablemate's path in the Grade 1, $250,000 Jamaica at 1 1/8 miles on the grass. Having claimed the 3-year-old Pure Prize colt from Rick Dutrow, Jr. and Vincent Scuderi for $50,000 on September 10, Chatterpaul turned around eight days later and won the $60,000 Summing overnight stakes at Belmont with him.

"I kind of liked his running style," said Chatterpaul, who trains and owns the colt. "He seemed like a nice horse. He was doing well, so I thought I'd give it a shot. It's all about giving it a shot."

Bred in Kentucky by Palides Investments, Top Surprize began his career at Gulfstream Park with Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, then was claimed by trainer Larry Rivelli and taken to Arlington Park, where he put together a four-race winning streak. Sent to Saratoga this summer, he finished third in a $50,000 claimer on August 3 and was haltered by Dutrow just prior to be claimed by Chatterpaul.

"In eight starts [prior to the claim], he had four wins, a second and a third," said Chatterpaul. "I take my time picking horses to claim."

Despite Mission Approved's seventh-place finish in the Grade 1 Arlington Million on August 13, Chatterpaul is full speed ahead tomorrow into the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational, a 1 ½-mile race that also attracted the Grade 1 winners Cape Blanco, Teaks North and Winchester.

"We found after [The Million] that he got a splinter in his throat," Chatterpaul said. "He bites onto the stall wall when you rub him. It infected his palette. We found it when we scoped him after the race. Now, I bought a muzzle. When we clean him up, I have a muzzle on him."

Chatterpaul also said the traveling took a lot out of Mission Approved. He sent him from Belmont to Saratoga on July 31 for a five-furlong turf workout in a blistering 57.70 seconds, then returned to Belmont before heading to Chicago.

"Physically, he was all right... but he lost a lot of weight," the trainer said.

Mission Approved glistened in the sun Friday morning heading back to his stall after a bath. Chatterpaul said Mission Approved, who picks up jockey Rajiv Maragh for the race, will be in his customary position in the race - in front.

"I'll run with Cape Blanco anytime because I know they'll have to catch me," Chatterpaul said.


 

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