LRL: Juvy stakes imprinted Capuano * The Racing Biz

LRL: Juvy insert with Capuano print

Capuano has had a great season with his youngsters, sending out sixteen individual winners from two-year-olds, and his depth is clearly visible in the Heft. Leading the way is Larry Fowler’s Probably Dreaming, who won his first three starts, including two stakes at Delaware Park, before finishing second to Brad Cox trainee My World in Aqueduct’s Nashua Stakes on Nov. 1. The colt, the only three-time winner in the field, moves back to seven furlongs with Carlos Lopez holding the mount.

“I didn’t get any complaints about that race,” Capuano said of the Nashua. “He had a pretty good chance of coming home, but that horse was a bit too heavy for him. It was a really good performance. I was happy with it.”

Very Volatile from Oak Tree Stable offers a different angle for Capuano. Beaten as favorite in his Delaware Park debut after losing his footing on the way home, he bounced back with a sharp maiden special weight win over seven furlongs at Laurel on November 29. That race has produced three subsequent winners, from six to the running back.

Yedsit Hazlewood, who took the Laurel Park driving title this event, remains on board as Very Volatile takes on the company.

Capuano is also represented by Pocket 3’s Racing’s Hollywood Import (8-1), a late-running Honor AP colt who won his debut from last place at Delaware Park before finishing second in Laurel’s James F. Lewis III Stakes, and Worker Bee (30-1), who may scratch.

Hollywood Import’s effort in the Lewis was a flattered winner. Balboa bounced back to take third in Aqueduct’s Grade 2 Remsen. With Hazlewood landing at Very Volatile, Mychel Sanchez will ride.

The Heft field includes several capable rivals, led by Mens Grille Racing’s Power Grid, who has won two in a row for trainer John Robb, including a rally win over Hollywood Import with a Laurel allowance, and Charles Town stakes winner Gurney Halleck, third in the Lewis. Red Zone Runner, Wildncrazyguy and I have an app for that complete the line-up.

Capuano’s mark carries over to the Gin Talking, where former intern Just Philtored (6-5) plays the leading role. The filly, named after Capuano’s three children, broke her maiden by eight lengths under his wing before being bought privately and handed over to trainer Michael Trombetta.

Since the move, she has won three of five starts, including the Maryland Juvenile Filly Stakes at seven furlongs on December 6, and has proven effective on both dirt and grass. Mychel Sanchez rides from the track.

“You can put her pretty much anywhere,” assistant coach Tana Aubrey said after the Maryland Juvenile Filly. “She likes to be moved forward, but she pushed through and finished well.”

Maryland Million Lassie winner Slewperstitus looks set to reverse the trend after finishing behind Just Philtored in all three previous meetings. She is trained by Robbie Bailes, has blinders and is ridden by Jevian Toledo.

“She’s been a special little filly for us this year,” Bailes said, speaking to Maryland Juvenile Filly. “She tries every time we put her out there. From day one, she’s just been a racehorse.”

Brittany Russell fields two talented fillies in Dazzling Dame, already a multiple stakes winner, and Peach Tie, who is undefeated in three dirt starts. C’est Chouette and Midnight Ginny complete the Gin Talking.

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