BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-bred millionaire Baby Yoda makes his first trip to Fair Grounds in New Orleans where he is among a field of nine 3-year-olds and older in the $175,000 Thanksgiving Classic going six furlongs on Thursday.
The 7-year-old gelding will make his second start for trainer Robert N. Falcone Jr. and owner Flying P Stable, who claimed him for $100,000 out of a winning effort going seven furlongs at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 29. Falcone is looking for Baby Yoda to improve on his only start from the new barn when eighth in the seven-furlong Vosburgh (Grade 3) during the Belmont at Big A meet on Sept. 27.
A winner of last year’s Grade 2 True North at Saratoga in June, Baby Yoda has won half of his four starts this year including a top level, $100,000 optional claiming during the Belmont at Big A meet on June 13. He was also fifth in the Grade 2 Alfred G. Vanderbilt at Saratoga on July 19.
Baby Yoda has a career record of 11 wins, eight of which have come in New York, with four seconds and four thirds from 33 starts. He looks to add to his lifetime revenues of $1,021,320.
Bred in Florida by Kathleen Amaya, Alexandro Centofanti and Raffaele Centofanti, Baby Yoda is by Prospective out of More Than Speed, by More Than Ready.
He is 5-1 on the morning line for the Thanksgiving Day Classic and will be ridden for the first time by Reylu Gutierrez.
Komorebino Omoide (Jpn) is the 3-1 morning line favorite as he shortens up to six furlongs off of a three-month layoff. He sprints for the first time since winning a Louisiana Downs allowance race at six furlongs in May of last year.
The Robertino Diodoro-trained son of California Chrome makes his first start since fifth in the mile-and-one-eighth Charles Town Classic (G2) on Aug. 22. He raced on grass in his two races prior, finishing second in the $250,000 Texas Turf Classic going nine furlongs at Lone Star Park in June and sixth in the $249,000 Kentucky Downs Turf Mile on Aug. 2.
The 5-year-old chesnut horse is owned by Perry Martin and has banked $731,166 from winning six of 21 career starts with four seconds and four thirds.
Paco Lopez will ride Komorebino Omoide from post five.
Others set for the Thanksgiving Classic are The Donegal Clan with Carlos Perez up, Goodlookinjustice has Fernado De La Cruz riding, Marcelino Pedroza Jr. has the call on Wendelssohn, Bear River will carry James Graham, 2022 Thanksgiving Classic-winner Surveillance has Ben Curtis taking the riding assignment, Mondogetsbuckets with jockey Axel Concepcion and Jareth Loveberry rides The Wine Steward.
Baby Yoda tries to become the fourth Florida-bred winner of the Thanksgiving Classic. Control Stake won in 2015, Mambo Galliano in 2010 and Merry Perry in 1972 when the race was the Thanksgiving Handicap.
Return to the November 26 issue of Wire to Wire
