NEWS
Flamingo Stakes preview: Undefeated Trippi faces ten rivals
Posted: Friday, April 07, 2000
Dogwood Stable's Trippi, an unraced maiden at the start of the year, could book his ticket to the Kentucky Derby (G1) with a strong performance in the 1 1/8-mile Flamingo Stakes (G3) on Saturday at the Hialeah-at-Gulfstream meeting.
The son of End Sweep broke his maiden on January 29 at Gulfstream Park, then followed up that win with victories in allowance company and in the seven-furlong Swale Stakes (G3) on March 11. The Flamingo will represent his first start at two turns and beyond seven furlongs. Eibar Coa will ride Trippi for trainer Todd Pletcher, replacing Jerry Bailey, who rides War Chant in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on Saturday.
Trippi will break from the inside post in an 11-horse Flamingo field. His primary rival, Tahkodha Hills, will break from the far outside. The Prospector's Halo colt, winner of the What a Pleasure Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park in December, finished third in the Florida Derby (G1) on March 11 in his last start, coming home ten lengths behind winner Hal's Hope.
The field, in post-position order with riders and weights:
1. Trippi, Eibar Coa, 119;
2. Mr. Livingston, Jose Velez Jr., 119;
3. Skip a Grade, Camilo Pitty, 119;
4. Bravo Bull, Rosemary Homeister Jr., 119;
5. Zammie, Sebastian Madrid, 122;
6. Fajardo, Abdiel Toribio, 119;
7. American Bullet, Rene Douglas, 119;
8. Kombat Kat, William Henry, 119;
9. Perfect Cat, Robbie Davis, 119;
10. Malagot, Roger Velez, 119; and
11. Tahkodha Hills, Javier Castellano, 122.
