BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Multiple graded stakes-placed Cagliostro will try to boost those credentials Saturday at Churchill Downs when the Florida-bred colt returns to added-money company in the Grade 3 Blame. The Cherie DeVaux-trained Cagliaostro will face 10 other 3-year-olds and older going a mile-and-one-eighth on the main track with a purse of $250,000.
Last time out in his first start of the year, Cagliostro defeated the Todd Pletcher-trained Dreamlike by a neck going a mile-and-an-eighth in a Keeneland allowance race on April 19. Dreamlike is also entered for the Blame.
Cagliostro’s best races in four graded stakes last year came when third in the Grade 3 Indiana Derby won by Verifying at Horseshoe Indianapolis in July and second to Il Miracolo in the Grade 3 Smarty Jones at Parx in August, both at a mile-and-a-sixteenth.
In seven total starts last year, he was eighth in the Grade 2 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds in March and finished the year with a fifth in the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park in September.
Cagliostro has a career record of two wins, three seconds and a third in nine starts with earnings of $223,988. The Ocala Breeders’ Sales graduate was purchased by DeVaux for $385,000 out of the Two Oaks Equine consignment at the 2022 Spring Sale.
By Upstart out of A Rosefor Isabelle, by Hard Spun, Cagliostro will race in the blue and tan colors of owner Wathnan Racing. He was bred in Florida by Lance Colwell and Janice Clark of Williston, Fla.
Calgliostro will be ridden by Jose Ortiz from post nine and they are 6-1 on the morning line.
The Keeneland allowance was also the 2023 debut for Dreamlike, who last year finished second to Saudi Crown in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby in September before finishing eighth in the Grade 1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic on won by White Abarrio on Nov. 4.
Also third in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino at Aqueduct in April, Dreamlike’s lone career victory came in a nine-furlong maiden special weight at Saratoga in July.
Dreamlike is by Gun Runner out of Time to Tap, by Tapit and is owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable.
Dreamlike is 4-1 in the program and will be ridden from post six by Irad Ortiz Jr.
The 5-2 program favorite is Godolphin homebred Highland Falls for trainer Brad Cox.
Highland Falls started the year winning a second condition, $50,000 optional claiming at Fair Grounds in January then traveled west to finish fourth in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap won by Newgate on March 3. He comes into Saturday’s contest off a second-place finish to Skippylongstocking in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap on April 20.
Highland Falls has post two and Florent Geroux has the mount.
Others set for the Blame are Frosted Departure with jockey Julien Leparoux, Tyler Gaffalione rides War Campaign, Uncle Jake has rider Joel Rosario, Tapit Trice will have Flavien Prat aboard, Classic Causeway carries Brian Hernandez Jr., Last Samurai will be ridden by Cristian Torres, Five Star General and jockey Corey Lanerie and Martin Garcia rides Trademark.
