Patrick Biancone

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...

Trainer Patrick Biancone has been down this road before. That is, the road to the Triple Crown. A Grade I winner at two and three, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's Lion Heart finished second, 2 3/4 lengths behind victor Smarty Jones in the 2004 GI Kentucky Derby. Fast forward to 2020, Biancone has not one but two chances to go one better on the first Saturday in May. Few will argue that the current star of the barn is recent GIII Sam F. Davis S. scorer Sole Volante (Karakontie {Jpn}),...

Sole Volante (Karakontie {Jpn}) wasn't an expensive yearling, but he announced his Classic aspirations impressively last weekend in an early Gl Kentucky Derby prep. He won the 1 1/16-mile Glll Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday, but sold for only $6,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling sale. He was resold by New Hope AB LLC for $20,000 at the OBS April sale as a 2-year-old to trainer Patrick Biancone, who knows a quality staying pedigree when he sees one. Of course, Biancone trained the great All...

With all eyes on unbeaten Independence Hall (Constitution) in Saturday's GIII Sam F. Davis S., Sole Volante (Karakontie {Jpn}) came rolling down the Tampa Bay stretch to upset the 3-5 favorite by a widening 2 1/2 lengths. It was 11 1/4 lengths back to third-place finisher Ajaaweed (Curlin). Sole Volante, campaigned in partnership by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Andie Biancone and Limelight Stables Corp., won his first two starts on grass, including an impressive come-from-behind win in the Pulpit S. at Gulfstream Nov. 30. He ran on nicely to finish third...

Introduced to horses before she could even walk, Andie Biancone worked her way through the ranks before getting her first full-time job on the backstretch three years ago. However, what the 22-year-old may lack in longevity, she more than makes up for with commitment, a strong work ethic and unbridled enthusiasm for the game. Also standing firmly behind the aspiring trainer is her father, international horseman Patrick Biancone, who trained a slew of equine stalwarts, including consecutive G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winners All Along and Sagace, in addition...