HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla.– Magic Stables LLC’s Papetu will concede between five and 10 pounds to five rivals in Saturday’s $60,000 Aventura at Gulfstream Park as the 124-pound highweight for the mile overnight handicap for 3-year-olds.
The Antonio Sano-trained son of Dialed In is coming off a 1 ¼-length victory in the July 10 Carry Back Stakes at Gulfstream in his first start since finishing seventh in the March 27 Curlin Florida Derby (G1).
A race at Saratoga was Sano’s goal for Papetu following his Carry Back triumph, but the veteran trainer has opted to employ the Aventura as a springboard for a future stakes engagement.
Papetu was impressive while winning his first two starts of his career last year at Gulfstream before venturing to Saratoga to finish sixth in the Saratoga Special (G2) and fifth in the Hopeful. The Kentucky-bred colt was competitive with the top 3-year-olds during the Championship Meet, during which he finished second in the Mucho Macho Man and third in the Fountain of Youth (G2), before enduring a five-wide trip from his far-outside post position in the Florida Derby.
Leonel Reyes has the return mount Saturday.
Magic Stables LLC and Sano will also be represented by Paladio, who has been running in claiming and starter company; Shamrock Highlands Thoroughbreds’ Perfect Silent Cat, a maiden to finished second in the Not Surprising; Magic Cap Stables’ Twelve Volt Man, who won the first two races of his career before finishing fifth in the Carry Back; and recent maiden winners Eid Alshamsi’s Rabdan and Miracle’s International Trading Inc.’s Emperor’s Cause; round out the field.
Gulfstream Park Press Release
Photo: Papetu (Lauren King)
