Mambo Meister,
third in last year’s Fourstardave and fifth in the Bernard Baruch on the Spa’s
turf, had his final blowout this morning for Sunday’s Grade 1, $250,000 Alfred
G. Vanderbilt Handicap, covering three furlongs in 36.11.
With jockey Kent Desormeaux up, the move was the
fourth-fastest of 16 at the distance on the main track.
“Kent
liked it, and I respect his judgment,” said trainer Phil Gleaves, who trains
Mambo Meister for Quantum Racing Team. “He moved over the track very well. This
gives us six days until the race, so all systems are go.”
In his only start at under a mile, Mambo Meister, a
5-year-old King Cugat gelding, finished a closing second to Big Drama in the
Grade 2 Smile Sprint Handicap at Calder on July 10.