OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Bond Racing Stable’s Giacosa, winner of the 2021 Yaddo at Saratoga,returned to the Belmont work tab in February and will aim for an April return to the races after a five-month layoff.
Bred in the Empire State by the Bond’s Song Hill Thoroughbreds and Roderick Towle, Giacosa put together a consistent 4-year-old season in 2021 with a 5-for-6 in-the-money record that was highlighted by a win in the 1 1/16-mile Yaddo in August. The daughter of Tizway closed out the year with a close second in the Forever Together at Aqueduct in November, beaten a neck by Flower Point and earning a career-high 84 Beyer Speed Figure.
Giacosa is a daughter of two former Bond trainees, out of the twice-winning Smart Strike mare Smart Engagement and by Tizway, who Bond conditioned to dual Grade 1 wins in the Metropolitan and Whitney Handicaps.
Bond said he is thankful for the success he has had with Giacosa and her parents.
“That was typical her,” Bond said of her Forever Together performance. “She’s an awfully nice mare and we’re lucky to have her. She’s just game and her family has been very good to us. We’re hoping she just gets better with age.”
The dark bay mare breezed a half-mile in 51.12 seconds Friday over the Belmont training track.
Bond said he is hopeful Giacosa will return to stakes form and make a start in the $100,000 Plenty of Grace, a one-mile turf test for older fillies and mares at Aqueduct on April 16.
“We’re looking at the Plenty of Grace next for her if she keeps doing what she’s doing and gets fit and strong,” said Bond. “She had a nice few months off at the farm and got a little break. It’s time to get back to work and have some fun this summer.”
Bond said he will also consider stakes company for recent maiden winner Galaxina, who graduated at second asking in a state-bred maiden special weight on February 26 at the Big A.
Bond said he is hopeful that the Giant Surprise filly, who finished second to next-out Maddie May runner-up Stone Creator in her January 16 debut, can show stakes proficiency in the $200,000 NYSSS Park Avenue, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for sophomore state-bred fillies on April 24 at the Big A.
“Everything seems well and we’re pointing her to the stallion series race in April,” said Bond. “We’re looking forward to her coming back at 6 1/2 furlongs and hopefully get some stakes quality from her. She’s a big, good looking, gorgeous filly. Hopefully, the best is yet to come.”
Bond said Grade 3 Forbidden Apple winner Rinaldi will look to return in the $100,000 Danger’s Hour at one-mile over the Big A turf on April 9 after a disappointing 11th in the NYSSS Thunder Rumble at Aqueduct last time out in his dirt debut.
“Sometimes in life you take chances and I had some exercise riders who kept telling me to try him on the dirt,” Bond said. “It was the end of the year, we tried him, and it just didn’t work.”
A son of Posse, Rinaldi has won at least one stakes race in each of his three seasons of racing. He posted a half-length victory in the Grade 3 Forbidden Apple at Saratoga last year that awarded him a career-best 102 Beyer.
“We gave him a rest and he had a good winter at the farm. He was awfully good to us last summer,” Bond said. “It was fantastic to win the Forbidden Apple. He’s a neat horse and tries his heart out. He’s getting fitter and stronger.”
Bond said Sandrone, a 3 1/2-length maiden winner on December 2 at the Big A, has resumed training and will target a return in a state-bred allowance sometime in April. The 3-year-old Run Away and Hide gelding finished third in his first three outings before his breakthrough win to close out his juvenile campaign.
“We put the blinkers on and he put it all together,” Bond said. “He’s a nice horse and we’ve always liked him. He showed how good he is last time and he freshened up this winter. Hopefully, he’ll go on and we’ll have some fun.”
NYRA Press Office
Photo: Giacosa takes the Yaddo Handicap at Saratoga under Luis Saez over Myhartblongstodady by 3/4 length Aug. 27, 2021. (Janet Garaguso)
