Tamarando Sticks to Synthetic for Spiral

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer sent out the star-crossed Event of the Year (Seattle Slew) to win the GIII Spiral S. in 1998–then contested as the Jim Beam S.–and followed up two years later with Globalize (Summer Squall), and the Hall of Fame conditioner will go for his third renewal of the Turfway feature when he sends out Mr. & Mrs. Larry Williams's Tamarando (Bertrando) in the nine-furlong test. 

“He's been very good on synthetic–he's won four out of seven–so I wanted to keep him on synthetic to run for a big purse,” Hollendorfer explained on national media teleconference Tuesday afternoon. 

A homebred for the Williamses, Tamarando will be making the 11th start of his career this weekend, with seven of his previous 10 appearance having come over artificial surfaces. The 7-1 upsetter of the GI Del Mar Futurity late last summer, the dark bay won the Real Quiet S. over the Hollywood Cushion Track ahead of a third to his sidelined stablemate Shared Belief (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the GI CashCall Futurity in December. Tamarando was runner-up to California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) in the Jan. 25 Cal Cup Derby on the Santa Anita main track, but posted a career-best when beating Dance With Fate (Two Step Salsa) in the GIII El Camino Real Derby Feb. 15. Tamarando is a colt who thrives on his racing, according to Hollendorfer. 

“He's never gone backwards,” the conditioner offered. “Usually if a horse is going backwards, we try to freshen them up and get them going again. He's always been steadfastly going forward and that's why he's run as many times as he has and he hasn't shown any inclination to be jogging off or anything like that, so we've just kept going.” 

He added, “He's been very ultra-consistent for me. He's been very bullet sound and he's warming up to this race really well.” 

Despite posting all four of his career victories to date over the synthetic tracks, Hollendorfer isn't willing to pigeon-hole his charge as a surface specialist. 

“He is a good horse and so I expect him to win on different kinds of racetracks, but most of his opportunities have been on the synthetic tracks,” Hollendorfer pointed out. “If we happen to get to the Derby, there's usually a good pace there and that will give him a good chance to pass some horses.” 

Russell Baze, who has partnered countless winners for Hollendorfer and was aboard Event of the Year in 1998, has the call this weekend. 

In other Spiral-related news, trainer Wayne Catalano confirmed on the call that he will start both John Battaglia Memorial S. winner Solitary Ranger (U S Ranger) and Gary and Mary West's Poker Player (Harlan's Holiday), runner-up in the Battaglia.

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