BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Unbeaten Florida-bred Taj Mahal puts his perfect record on the line against a familiar group of fellow 3-year-olds in the one-mile Federico Tesio at Laurel Race Course Saturday.
Taj Mahal has the outside post 10 and a victory would give the bay son of Nyquist the winner’s share of the $150,000 purse plus a $4,000 Export Incentive for breeder Peter Vegso’s Vegso Racing Stable paid directly by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Trained by Brittany Russell, Taj Mahal tries for his second stakes victory in three starts having defeated Tesio rivals Let’s Go Lando, Close the Gate and Higher Sense with a gate-to-wire score in the $100,000 Miracle Wood over a muddy and sealed mile at Laurel on February 21. Higher Sense and Let’s Go Lando pressed Taj Mahal and jockey Sheldon Russel through a half mile in :48.15 but could not get past the tenacious winner. Taj Mahal endured to win by a neck ahead of Let’s Go Lando with Close the Gate three-and-a-three-quarters of a lengths farther back in third. Higher Sense faded to fifth.
A $525,000 yearling purchase at the 2024 Keeneland September Sale by Donato Lanni as an agent for SF Bloodstock/Starlight Racing and Madaket Stable, Taj Mahal won at first asking on February 6, taking a six-furlong maiden special weight by four-and-a-quarter lengths at Laurel. In his two starts he has earned $88,200 for SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Bashor Racing, Determined Stables, Golconda Stables, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan.
Taj Mahal is out of the stakes-placed mare Oola Gal, by Quality Road.
Sheldon Russell will again ride and they are the 7-2 second choice on the morning line.
Michael Maker trains the 3-1 program favorite, Volendam, a two-length winner of a six-furlong maiden special weight on synthetic at Turfway Park in his only start on March 21.
Mychel Sanchez will ride Volendam from post two.
Also entered are Hixon and jockey Jevian Toledo, Chayton will have Vincent Cheminaud in the saddle, Yedsit Hazlewood has the call on Wild Warrior, Let’s Go Lando will be ridden by Paco Lopez, Joseph Rocco Jr. takes the assignment on Close the Gate, Classic Nofty will have Forest Boyce up, Dexter Haddock takes the reins on Higher Sense and Angel Cruz will guide Code of Silence.
Return to the April 16 issue of Wire to Wire
