Romeo Plus, Congrats Headline Tokyo City
Of the 10 horses scheduled to run in the $100,000 Tokyo City Handicap today at Santa Anita, Romeo Plus is coming off the most impressive race.
Making only his second start on the dirt in the U.S., the 6-year-old Argentine-bred won an optional claimer by 2 1/2 lengths on March 1. He won at the Tokyo City distance of 1 1/8 miles in his second start for trainer Paddy Gallagher.
A winner of three of nine on the main track in South America, Romeo Plus will break from the rail today and will be ridden for the first time by David Flores. Kent Desormeaux, who left for New York to ride on that circuit, rode the son of Alpha Plus to that last win.
In terms of earnings, Congrats is the most accomplished horse in the Tokyo City. The 6-year-old A.P. Indy horse has won seven of 23 and banked $978,960, but will be trying to rebound from a subpar performance in his first start of 2006.
Congrats, who is trained by Richard Mandella for owner-breeders Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, finished seventh of eight in the San Carlos Handicap on Feb. 18.
He has trained well since that race and does have a win at 1 1/8 miles. Tyler Baze will be aboard.
Race of the day: Bandini, who was a winner in his 2006 debut on March 1, will try for his second graded stakes win when he meets Noble Causeway and six others in the $100,000 Skip Away Handicap today at Gulfstream Park. John Velazquez will ride the 4-year-old Fusaichi Pegasus colt for owners Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith and trainers Todd Pletcher in the Grade III at 1 1/8 miles. The Skip Away is one of seven stakes on the program today at Gulfstream. Besides the Florida Derby, the others are the $75,000 Spectacular Bid, the $150,000 Orchid, the $100,000 Artax, the $150,000 Pan American and the $75,000 Lure.
One for the road: Levendis has always run well on Aqueduct’s main track and can rebound from some poor tries on the inner surface in the ninth race today. Richard Migliore will ride the 7-year-old Ormsby gelding, who has been 1-2-3 in seven of eight at Aqueduct, in the $14,000 claimer at one mile.
Exotically speaking: A pick three using Bruisen Susan in the first, Tabor and American Influence in the second and Ladies Souvenir, El Mirage Queen and Candy Jo in the third.
Winners: (previous day/meet total): 4/203. Money: (previous day/meet total): $25/$1,179.80. Total money bet: $1,186.
