After 11 career starts, trainer Juan Carlos Avila said he’s figured out that Trophy Chaser’s best races are routes. The 4-year-old son of Twirling Candy will get another chance to shine around two turns in the $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older horses at 1 1/8 miles May 2.
“I made a mistake for six months,” said Avila, who also owns Trophy Chaser. “I ran him 6 furlongs, 6 furlongs, 6 furlongs.”
After running third, fourth and fourth in those races, including the $300,000 Gallant Bob Stakes (G2) Sept. 21 at Parx, Trophy Chaser is 2 for 2 this year in his return to routes. Trophy Chaser was an 8 ¼-length allowance winner at 1 1/8 miles Feb. 2 at Gulfstream Park and won the $100,000 Challenger Stakes (G3) by a neck March 7 at Tampa Bay Downs. The Challenger was 1 1/16 miles
Trophy Chaser hadn’t routed since finishing second, beaten a neck, in the $100,000 Mucho Macho Man Stakes in January 2019 at Gulfstream Park. The 1-mile race was his 3-year-old debut.
“He had a little problem and went to the farm for three months,” Avila said. “When he came back, I put him in a 7-furlong race. Very nice; 96 Beyer number. I am crazy, so I go to 6 furlongs, 6 furlongs. Third place, third place. I said, ‘Go to the long distance.’ He ran two big races. No more 6-furlong races.”
Avila said Trophy Chaser was rerouted to Oaklawn after the $1 million Charles Town Classic (G2) April 18 at Charles Town was postponed (Covid-19).
“The horse is running well,” Avila said.
Trophy Chaser and stablemate King Guillermo will represent the first local starters for the Florida-based Avila, who amassed roughly 3,000 victories in his native Venezuela before saddling his first United States winner in March 2018. King Guillermo is pointing for the split $500,000 Arkansas Derby (G1) May 2.
King Guillermo, a son of champion Uncle Mo, is coming off a 4 ¾-length victory in the $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G2) March 7 at Tampa Bay Downs.
Oaklawn Park Press Release
Photo: Trophy Chaser (outside) bests King for a Day in the Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in March. Credit: SV Photography
