Peachtree Stable's 3-year-old Gaucho was a $425,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase that didn't find the winners' circle until his fourth career start at Calder Casino & Race Course on June 26, but appears headed in the right direction now as he steps up to try his ‘a other than' optional/allowance credentials in Sunday's feature.
Jockey Luis Saez is named to ride Gaucho for trainer Marty Wolfson in the field of eight 3-year-olds and up at seven furlongs. The son of 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper finished 11th and fourth in two starts early this year at Gulfstream Park and fourth in a turf sprint here on May 22 in his first start for Wolfson before breaking his maiden at seven furlongs.
The intriguing runner entered in Sunday's race is owner-trainer Giuseppe Iadisernia's 4-year-old United States with jockey A.J. Alfaro named to ride in his Calder debut after a private purchase since his last start finishing fourth at Delaware Park on June 1 for trainer Todd Pletcher and the Coolmore ownership team of Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith.
United States is a regally-bred son of A.P. Indy originally purchased for $2 million at the Keeneland September sales, but didn't make his career debut until Feb. 13 this year at Gulfstream Park, finishing third. In two more starts at Gulfstream before his last at Delaware, he broke his maiden by nine lengths going a mile on Mar. 11 and third as the favorite on Apr. 8.
Two other contenders in Sunday's feature come out of good efforts at seven furlongs over the track with IAB Stable's 5-year-old gelding Kiernan's Legacy and Sherry Parboo's 4-year-old gelding King Ghidorah finishing second and third last out, respectively, in a similar race on July 15 with only a head separating the first three.
Jockey Antonio Gallardo rides Kiernan's Legacy for trainer Tamara Levy as the son of Perigee Moon continues his rise up from the claiming ranks. After finishing second at Gulfstream for a $6,250 claiming tag on Apr. 22, he shows a win, a second and a third in three starts at this meet before his last good try.
Apprentice Angel Moreno gets the call on King Ghodorah for trainer Bisnath Parboo, who claimed the son of Black Mambo two starts back here on May 21 for $16,000 when he finished second by a nose going one mile. He came back to win a ‘non-winners' of three for a $16,000 tag on June 18 going seven furlongs with no takers.
Completing the field for Sunday's feature are Kuehne Racing's The Limon Kid, Manoel Cruz; Wessell Allan Clarke's Great Blade, Albin Jimenez; Faiz Khan International's Face the Cat, Eduardo Nunez and Laurie Plesa's Hey Byrn. Luis Saez.
Cherokee Queen on Road Again for Matchmaker Sunday at Monmouth
Farnsworth Stable's 5-year-old mare Cherokee Queen won the $55,000 Hollywood Wildcat overnight stakes at Calder Casino & Race Course on May 8 in her first start for trainer Marty Wolfson after a private purchase, and is making her third road trip since then as she goes in Sunday's $200,000 Taylor Made Matchmaker Stakes (G3) on Haskell Day at Monmouth Park.
The daughter of Cherokee Run first shipped to New York to finish a game fourth in the $400,000 Just A Game Stakes (G1) on Belmont Day, June 5, beaten only 1 ¾ lengths for it all with trouble in the race, and back north again to capture the $200,000 Dr. James Penny Memorial over the Philadelphia Park course by three lengths last out on July 5.