Multiple stakes winner Scorching (Mo Town), aiming for his graded stakes debut in the Mar. 1 GIII Gotham Stakes, worked five furlongs in 1:04.22 (5/7) over the dirt training track at Belmont Park Saturday for trainer John Charalambous. It was the fourth local work for the Ontario-bred colt, who is stabled in the barn of trainer Michael Miceli.
“He went by himself, and he breezed well,” Charalambous said. “The track was slow. Sahin Civaci was supposed to breeze him, but he's hurt, so we called an audible and put one of Mike's exercise riders on him.”
Owned by Paul Braverman and Timothy Pinch, Scorching broke his maiden in the 6 1/2-furlong Simcoe Stakes over the synthetic surface at Woodbine and was elevated to the win after finishing second under the line in the 1 1/16-mile Cup and Saucer Stakes over the turf Oct. 6.
Charalambous, who has been training horses since 1982, said he's not had to worry about adapting to New York's winter weather.
“It would be nice if we had a few days in the 40s. We've had some touchy mornings here–Canadian mornings,” Charalambous said with a laugh. “Fortunately, we haven't missed any days of training with him, so that's a bonus. There are a few options here that some of the colder weather tracks don't have. I've utilized all the training options we have here and they're good options, so you don't miss a day.”
Charlambous will be looking for his first win in New York since Charming Chester won a second-level allowance in 2000 when he saddles Scorching for the Gotham.
“The timing and the distance of the Gotham works well for me to be able to get him ready off a little bit of a layoff. Hopefully, it works out,” Charalambous said. “It was unfortunate he got a virus before the Coronation Futurity. I thought he was the best or second best 2-year-old that ran at Woodbine last year. He did everything we asked of him.”
Charalambous added of Scorching, “He's definitely a horse to get excited about. Whether he can handle the competition, I'm not sure, but he deserves an opportunity, and I think he's up to the task.”
Also under consideration for the Gotham is Chester Broman's Sand Devil (Violence), who took his record to a perfect three-for-three with a win against fellow New York-breds in the Damon Runyon Stakes Saturday at Aqueduct.
“He came out of the race very well,” trainer Linda Rice said of Sand Devil's status Sunday morning. “I think since they went so slow early, the dynamics of the race were a bit odd, but all in all, he dug in during the stretch. He had to fight off a contender, which is probably good for him as far as fitness and experience.”
Looking ahead for the colt, Rice said, “It's a gradual progression. As I've stated before, I had hoped to get to the Withers, but the weather in January was pretty harsh in New York. This was our back-up position and now we'll point to the Gotham and see how it goes. We are hoping things go well in the Gotham and we can move onto the mile and an eighth in the Wood. Time will tell.”
The Gotham, at a one-turn mile, offers 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.
Bernieandtherose (Accelerate) may also be making the transition from the New York-bred ranks to a Classic-qualifying race after winning the East View Stakes Saturday.
“She came back good,” trainer Domenick Schettino said. “I was impressed with her, especially with her dropping back down on the inside and then once Katie [Davis] got her outside, she was coming again.”
Schettino said both the one-mile Busher Stakes Mar.1, which awards 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points, and the one-mile state-bred Maddie May Stakes Mar. 8 are potential targets for the filly moving forward.
“We'll see how she comes back and how she trains. I don't think the distance will be an issue,” Schettino said. “She galloped out strong. She's matured since she first came in. She wasn't great in the gate, and it took us time to teach her the gate, but she's matured a lot.”
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