Stradivinsky Tries Tougher in Jaipur

An easy winner against $25,000 claimers in a turf sprint at Gulfstream Park on March 7, Stradivinsky followed that performance with an equally impressive score against $35,000 claimers when dashing on the grass at Arlington Park on May 1. Sent to Churchill Downs by trainer Larry Rivelli, the 7-year-old gelding scored by 2 ¼ lengths on May 27.

That event at Churchill was Stradivinsky’s final performance for Rivelli as he was claimed for $50,000 out of that race by trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr. on behalf of owner Michael Dubb.

“His numbers were good,” said Dutrow of the decision to claim the bay gelding. “He’s ready to run. This is a big race for him – if he wins, the owners will get twice their money back.”

Stradivinsky – the 2-1 morning-line second choice in the Jaipur, which will be contested at six furlongs on the Widener Turf Course– will break from post position 4 with C.C. Lopez aboard.

Like Stradivinsky, Formidable is another who has improved with age, opening his 5-year-old season with consecutive victories in optional claimers on the main track at Gulfstream in January and March, then overcoming a poor start to take an open allowance when sprinting on the turf at that venue on April 4.

“He had a lot of trouble with his foot when he was younger,” said Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens. “We used to have to stop a lot on him. He’s been able to train more up to the races now.”

Owned by Robert N. Clay, Formidable acquitted himself well in two recent starts in graded stakes, finishing fourth in both the Grade 3 Turf Sprint at Churchill on April 30 and the Grade 2 True North Handicap on the dirt at Belmont on June 5.

“We think he might be a little bit better on the turf,” said Jerkens. “His [race in the True North] was pretty good. He moved a little quick.”

Jose Lezcano, who has ridden Formidable in all but one of his five career victories, regains the mount aboard the 9-5 morning line favorite. The duo will break from post position 5.

Yield Bogey, third in the Grade 3 Poker last year at Belmont, rebounded from a last-of-seven performance in a six-furlong optional claimer on the Inner Turf Course on May 30 in his seasonal debut to post an 18-1 upset at that level over the same Widener distance on June 25.

Pat Kelly, who trains Yield Bogey on behalf of Fox Ridge Farm, believes his Jaipur hopeful has found his niche in turf sprints.

“We tried stretching him out,” said Kelly of the 6-year-old gelding. “He’s had a couple of OK races, but he seems to be a closing sprinter. He wants to take off sometimes. In the longer races he won’t relax. Usually [in turf sprints], there’s someone out there winging.”

Yield Bogey, who drew the rail, was tabbed at 6-1 on the morning line and will be guided by his regular rider, Jean-Luc Samyn.

Perfect Officer seeks his first victory since taking the Solomon Northup at Saratoga last August. Trained by George Weaver, the 4-year-old gelding has made three starts in 2010, finishing third to Formidable at Gulfstream in April, eighth in the Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs, and fourth in the June 5 Wolf Hill at Monmouth Park.

Escrow Kid, conditioned by Carl Doran, was first under the wire in the Anderson Fowler at Monmouth on June 20, but was disqualified and placed sixth for ducking out in the final sixteenth of a mile. The lone 3-year-old entered in the Jaipur, the son of City Place was second in an allowance on the Jersey Shore on June 6 in his only other attempt in a turf sprint.

Dubai Rainbow, who will be making his first start on the turf since December 2008 when he was a maiden, and Our Friend Harvey, winner of an overnight stakes on the Widener in May 2009, complete the field.

The field for the Grade 3, $200,000 Jaipur: