BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Amy E. Dunne and Patrick L. Biancone’s Classic of Course will try to become the first Florida-bred since He Hate Me in 2017 to win the $150,000 Tremont for 2-year-olds at five-and-a-half furlongs at Saratoga Thursday. Also trained by Biancone, the bay son of Awesome of Course is the 7-2 third choice in the field of eight.
Classic of Course will be making his second career start after an impressive six-and-a-half-length score going four-and-a-half furlongs against special weight maidens at Gulfstream Park on May 3. With Emisael Jaramillo aboard, Classic of Course battled for the lead through the turn before pulling away in the stretch to win with ease, earning $45,000, including a $5,000 Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Florida Sire Stakes bonus.
Bred by Amy E. Dunne and Ciaran G. Dunne, Classic of Course is the first foal out of the unraced Honor Code mare Alma Mater.
Classic of Course has drawn post eight and will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr.
The 2-1 morning line favorite is first-time starter Touchy for trainer Wesley Ward.
Touchy is by Nyquist out of Touch the Moon, by Malibu Moon and is a half-brother to 2020 Matron (G3)-winner Royal Approval, by Tiznow.
A homebred colt for Three Chimney Farm LLC, Touchy has two impressive works in preparation for his first start including a four-furlong breeze in :47 flat at Keeneland on May 25 that was the second fastest of 111 works that morning at the distance. He also went four furlongs in :48 over the Saratoga training track on May 31, which was the third fastest of 53 half-mile moves that morning.
Touchy has post seven and will be ridden by Joel Rosario.
Trainer Steve Asmussen will saddle Three Echoes, the 5-2 second choice, for L and N Racing LLC.
Three Echoes makes his second career starts after winning a five-furlong maiden special weight by three-quarters of a length at Churchill on May 24 with Keith Asmussen aboard.
Three Echoes is by First Crop sire Echo Town out of Bayou Miss, by Dixie Union and was a $130,000 purchase by L and N Racing at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale where he was consigned by de Meric Sales. Bayou Miss is a half-sister to graded stakes-placed Imperial Council; stakes-placed, stakes-producer Minesave; stakes-placed Monopolize and stakes-producer Rainbow Dreams.
Keith Asmussen has the return mount and they have post five.
Completing the field are Studlydoright with jockey Xavier Perez, Dew and rider Junior Alvarado, Dominican Thunder has Javier Castellano named to ride, Joseph Bealmear has the call on Brereton’s Baytown and Shoot the Nickel will be ridden by Dylan Davis.
