After his mighty win on January 14 in the $150,000 Season Five Bets on Older Horses on January 14 at Oaklawn Park, mango tree returned to base in Southern California on January 17 to begin preparations for his next start, which has yet to be determined, coach Peter Miller said.
Miller said Ginobili will be considered for a $600,000 Razor Handicap (G3) for older horses at 1 1/16 mile on February 18 in Oaklawn and winter and early races. Spring in the Middle East. The race in Saudi Arabia would be a sprint, a potential race in Dubai would be a sprint or a mile, Miller said.
Ginobili received 108 Base Speed Figures for his four-mile win in the one-mile Fifth Season at 1:37.35 under Ricardo Santana Jr. After the race, Santana, Oaklawn’s eight-time equestrian champion, said he believes Ginobili is only “75%” fit for the race. 6 year old Munnings gelding just started for the second time in over a year.
“It’s a scary proposition,” Miller said. “I hope he’s right. We’re very curious about how he runs and how he comes back. Sure, Razorback makes a lot of sense, fits the timing. I imagine there will be a game or two. new shooter, but I would imagine it’s roughly the same bunch.”
In his first start for Miller after a previous race for now-suspended coach Richard Baltas, Ginobili came in second, hit on the head by his steady friend Get her number in the 20th November grant optional sprint request at Del Mar. It marked Ginobili’s first race in nearly a year after a physical defeat, Miller said.
He raced on Saturday for Slam Dunk Racing owners Jerry McClanahan and Michael Nentwig.
The fifth season is by far Ginobili’s best run in Arkansas after he was twice eliminated in two optional claim races in early 2020.
Nick Cosato, managing partner of Slam Dunk, said after Season Five: “We think he’s a different horse now. “He’s healthy. He’s had a rest. I think he’s been a bit sour here and that’s not the track itself. That’s just the way he’s doing. Now, he He’s in good form, and I mean today we saw a real Ginobili.”
Season five was Ginobili’s fourth win in 17 starts and lifted his career earnings to $561,050. It was his second bet win. Ginobili scored the biggest win of her career to date at the $202,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes (G2) at 7 points stretch in August 2021 in Del Mar. He also finished second in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) in November 2021 at Del March.
Baltas, who co-owned Ginobili for most of the gel polisher’s career, bought him for $35,000 at Keeneland’s September 2018 Annual Sale from Hinkle Farms consignment.
This press release has been edited by BloodHorse Staff for content and style.
