By Jim Freer
Saturday, Aug. 22 — Wildcat Red breezed five furlongs in 59.3 seconds at Saratoga Race Course this morning, said is trainer Jose Garoffalo.
“They said he’s looking good,” Garoffalo said. “We’re feeling good about the race. It is a nice distance for him.”
Wildcat Red is in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., for next Saturday’s $750,000 Forego Stakes (Grade 1) at seven furlongs.
Garoffalo was at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. He said he will fly to Saratoga on Tuesday.
Entries will be drawn Wednesday afternoon for the Forego and Saturday’s other races on a card that will be topped by the 1 1/4 mile Travers (Grade 1) for 3-year-olds.
Jose Lezcano rode the 4-year-old Wildcat Red this morning and will have the mount in the Forego.
Paco Lopez rode Wildcat Red in his last race–a win n the six furlong Teddy Drone Stakes on Aug. 2 at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. Garoffalo had been planning to have Lopez ride Wildcat Red in the Forego.
“But Paco has commitments at Monmouth (next Saturday), ” Garoffalo said.
The Big Beast, Private Zone and Bourbon Courage are among other horses listed as probables for the Forego
Garoffalo will be hoping for a fast pace that could work in favor of Wildcat Red, whose future is probably as a late-running sprinter.
Gulfstream is Wildcat Red’s home track. Last year at Gulfstream he won the 1 1/16 mile Fountain of Youth (Grade 2) and finished second in the 11/8 mile Florida Derby (Grade 1) .
