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OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Michael Dubb and Michael J. Caruso’s multiple graded stakes-placed Run Curtis Run will make his first start outside the graded ranks since July in Sunday’s second running of the $120,000 Carle Place, a six-furlong outer turf sprint for sophomores, at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet.
Trained by Mike Maker, the New York-bred son of Summer Front arrives from two consecutive runner-up efforts at the graded level, finishing 2 3/4 lengths behind Big Invasion in the Grade 3 Quick Call presented by the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation on July 17 at Saratoga Race Course, and 4 1/4 lengths in arrears of One Timer last out in the Grade 2 Franklin-Simpson on September 10 at Kentucky Downs. With four starts at the graded level, the consistent Run Curtis Run has finished second in three of those outings, his lone off-the-board effort a distant 12th-place finish in the Grade 2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint last year at Del Mar.
Run Curtis Run, who has finished in-the-money in 7-of-9 lifetime starts, is in search of his first victory since last year’s state-bred Rick Violette at Saratoga, which was contested at six furlongs over the main track. There, he led at each point of call to score a 3 3/4-length victory under Jose Ortiz and added to his debut maiden score one start prior sprinting five furlongs over a sloppy and sealed main track at Belmont Park.
Along with his two graded placings, Run Curtis Run’s two other starts this year were a third-place finish in the William Walker to kick off his campaign on May 4 at Churchill Downs and a close second in an allowance on June 5 at the Louisville oval.
Run Curtis Run, who was bred in the Empire State by Larry Goichman, will emerge from post 5 in rein to Ortiz.
Mark Grier’s Too Many Twizzlers will vie for his first stakes victory for conditioner Arnaud Delacour on the heels of an impressive allowance score on September 14 at Kentucky Downs. An Iowa-bred son of Twirling Candy, Too Many Twizzlers was a two-length winner of the 6 1/2-furlong allowance against older rivals after overcoming a slow start and rallying from nine lengths off the pace under a well-timed ride from Irad Ortiz, Jr. The effort garnered a career-best 87 Beyer Speed Figure.
“Not too many horses were closing that day, so he was a little against the bias,” said Delacour. “I thought he came running with a very good turn of foot, so we hope that we’ll be able to see that again. I was very happy with that.”
Too Many Twizzlers broke his maiden at Monmouth Park on June 26.
It was the second win for Too Many Twizzlers, who graduated at second asking sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs in June over the Monmouth Park turf. His only start at stakes level was a fourth-place finish in the My Frenchman in July at Monmouth where he broke a step slow and closed from sixth to come up four lengths shy.
The Carle Place will be Too Many Twizzlers’ first start at six furlongs, something Delacour said should suit him.
“I like the six furlongs for him. The last time at Kentucky Downs, six and a half furlongs was perfect for him,” said Delacour. “If I could run at seven, I think that would be [better], but six is OK. He doesn’t break very well and never has, so I hope he can be a little more in the race.”
Delacour added that Too Many Twizzlers has been training forwardly over Fair Hill’s all-weather training track, most recently posting a half-mile in 51 seconds flat on Sunday.
“He’s been well since the race. He hasn’t missed a breeze and he’s a very easy horse to train,” said Delacour.
Ortiz, Jr, will pilot the $375,000 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training purchase again from post 4.
James A. Shannon, Jr.’s That’s Right enters as the lone graded stakes winner in the field, last seen capturing the Grade 3 Turf Monster on September 24 at Parx Racing in frontrunning fashion under returning rider Andy Hernandez.
Trained by Michael Moore, the bay Goldencents colt made his first six outings on dirt before making a switch to turf, leading to an impressive 4-for-5 record over the lawn, including another stakes score in the My Frenchman at Monmouth this summer.
That’s Right will exit post 2.
Trainer Michael Trombetta, who captured the Glen Cove with Half Is Enough last weekend, will look to double up on Belmont at the Big A stakes wins with R. Larry Johnson and R. D. M. Racing Stable’s Maya Prince.
Maya Prince, a gelded son of Astern, streaks into the Carle Place off a pair of turf sprint victories, graduating for a $40,000 tag in a September 7 maiden at Colonial Downs before grinding out a gutsy neck victory in a first-level allowance last out on September 24 at Pimlico Race Course. There, he overcame a troubled trip when he was bumped at the start, swung six-wide and trailed in last-of-8 at the three-eighths call before showing a strong turn of foot down the stretch to collar Uncle Roamie in the final strides.
“Each jump is a pretty big one, and to be able to do that back-to-back, most of them struggle with it. So, that’s a good sign,” said Trombetta. “After winning the allowance race, it’s probably a good time to go ahead and try the stakes level. He’s been training very good.”
A $50,000 purchase at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, Maya Prince is out of the Street Sense mare Maya Princess, making him a half-brother to stakes-winner Mariah’s Princess. He is a direct descendant of multiple stakes-winner and influential broodmare Spinaway.
Trevor McCarthy picks up the mount from post 9.
Completing the field are Legends Can’t Die [post 1, Manny Franco], Outlaw Kid [post 3, Javier Castellano], Grooms All Bizness [post 6, Dylan Davis], Surprise Boss [post 7, Kendrick Carmouche], Just Jeremy [post 8, Richard Mitchell] and Sosua Summer [post 10, Jose Lezcano]. Cyberviking, Dot’s Dollar and Leddy are entered for the main-track only.
The Carle Place is slated as Race 6 on Sunday’s nine-race program. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.
NYRA Press Office
Photo: Run Curtis Run winning the Rick Violette at Saratoga July 21, 2021, and earning Black Type. NYRA/Coglianese
