Patrick Biancone

The last shall be first; and the longest, shortest. Insofar, that is, as we have a Triple Crown series at all. This year, to many, the GI Belmont S. is just another mile-and-eighth GI Kentucky Derby prep, conveniently loaded with qualifying points. For those deigning to line up, however, an asterisk is a perfectly acceptable price for becoming a 152nd consecutive name in the annals of the oldest Classic, extending all the way back to Ruthless at Jerome Park. The modern ruthless can perhaps be found at Churchill Downs instead--albeit...

At 46, Luca Panici is far too deep into his career for anyone to talk sensibly of breakthroughs. But if it is unusual to find the second favorite for a Classic ridden by a jockey who has otherwise partnered a single graded stakes winner, then let nobody be deceived. Luca Panici was born and raised for days like Saturday, and his horsemanship and character are absolutely commensurate with the opportunity awaiting him on Sole Volante (Karakontie {Jpn}) in the GI Belmont S. The one pity, of course, is that this...

ELMONT, NY -- Led by imposing GI Curlin Florida Derby winner Tiz the Law (Constitution), a field of 10 has been drawn for Saturday's shortened 152nd renewal of the $1-million GI Belmont S. Tiz the Law, also an authoritative winner of last term's GI Champagne S. at Belmont Park, will break from post eight under regular rider Manny Franco in the first leg of the reshuffled Triple Crown going 1 1/8 miles. The 6-5 morning-line favorite is trained by Barclay Tagg for Sackatoga Stable. Tagg and Jack Knowlton's outfit, of...

Dean and Patti Reeves, fourth with Tax (Arch) in last year's GI Belmont S., will be represented in this year's race by Sole Volante (Karakontie {Jpn}), who took the long route from Florida to New York Tuesday. "He's going by FedEx," Dean Reeves said while the gelding was en route Tuesday. "Whatever kind of package, I guess they can do it. He had to go to Memphis and had a layover there and he should get into New York around 8 p.m. [Co-owner and assistant trainer] Andie [Biancone] is already...

There is quite a convergence of different languages in the brilliant name of Gulfstream winner and Classic player Sole Volante--Italian for "Flying Sun". His sire's name Karakontie (Jpn) (whose dam is Sun Is Up) is Mohawk (American Indian) lingo for, voila'!, "Flying Sun". Great name: every horse tells a story, some even more so. 9th-Gulfstream, $46,000, Alw, Opt. Clm ($100,000), 6-10, 3yo, 1m, 1:34.80, ft. SOLE VOLANTE (g, 3, Karakontie {Jpn}--Light Blow, by Kingmambo) Sales history: $6,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP; $20,000 2yo '19 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: GSW, 6-4-1-1, $293,310. *1/2...

Sent off as the 12-5 second choice to his slightly more accomplished stable companion Ete Indien (Summer Front), Sole Volante (Karakontie {Jpn}) was dropped out the back early by Luca Panici, but came with a flying finish in the final furlong to defeat longshot Jesus' Team (Tapiture) by 3/4 of a length in what could be a prep for the GI Belmont S. in New York in 10 days' time. Drawn widest in a field scratched down to six, Sole Volante flopped out of the gates and was content to...

While it seems that some trainers cannot have enough time off between races, Patrick Biancone will go against conventional wisdom Wednesday at Gulfstream. He has entered Sole Volante (Karakontie {Jpn}) in a $55,000 allowance race he will use as a prep for the GI Belmont S. run just 10 days later. "What, you never heard of Woody Stephens?" Biancone joked. Stephens was never shy about running horses back on short rest and in 1982 won the GI Metropolitan H. with Conquistador Cielo on a Monday and then the Belmont five...

Recent allowance winner Tap It to Win (Tapit) is now under consideration for the GI Belmont S. June 20, according to trainer Mark Casse. "I've always said, run them when they're good," Casse said. "We won the [GI] Breeders' Cup [Filly and Mare Sprint] with Shamrock Rose (First Dude) [off of two week's rest] and last year we spun Got Stormy (Get Stormy) back off of a week's rest to beat colts in a Grade I [Fourstardave at Saratoga]. Sixteen days will be enough time." A second-out graduate in August,...

Since its inaugural running in 1952, the GI Curlin Florida Derby has always been a stop along the journey for GI Kentucky Derby hopefuls--a chance for fine-tuning and finishing touches before horses take their best shots to Louisville. But this year, due to the postponement of the Run for the Roses and general uncertainty about what the rest of the racing calendar will look like as the world grapples with the coronavirus crisis, the Florida Derby is now a point of disembarkation for 3-year-olds, and it fittingly drew a stacked...

Patrick Biancone pulled off the improbable last Saturday in the GII Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream, winning a major prep for the GI Kentucky Derby with a horse who cost relatively little at the sales and appeared headed for a career on the grass. Now, can he do it all over again? A week after Ete Indien (Summer Front) won the Fountain of Youth, Sole Volante (Karakontie {Jpn}) will look to emulate his stablemate with a win in the GII Tampa Bay Derby. The similarities with the two are...

Ete Indien (Summer Front), who produced a breakout performance when dominating Saturday's GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. by 8 1/2 lengths at Gulfstream, came out of his effort well Sunday morning, according to trainer Patrick Biancone. "Very good," Biancone told the Gulfstream notes team of how his colt looked. "He ate all his dinner and he's happy and sound this morning, which is what you want to see. We're good." Starting his career on turf, Ete Indien switched to the dirt for an upset allowance victory Dec. 20 in...

Ete Indien got over and to the lead from his wide draw, and never looked back as he streaked home a dominant winner of Saturday's GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. despite drifting out. Heavy favorite Dennis' Moment (Tiznow) backed up early and trailed the field home. Gunned from his outside post and over to the rail with a short run into the first turn, Ete Indien maintained a clear advantage down the backside and appeared to be traveling comfortably as he posted splits :23.14, :46.72 and 1:11.30. He was...