AUGMENT ADAPTS TO GRASS FOR GALLAGHER
Article taken from the Bloodhorse
Improvement has come quickly for Augment, especially since
trainer Paddy Gallagher switched him to the turf this summer,
including a surprising second place finish in the Del Mar Derby
last time out. The APTITUDE gelding is sure to attract more
attention in the $150,000 Oak Tree Derby on the Santa Anita lawn on
October 13th.
There are no standouts among the 11 entered for the nine-furlong
test, creating a golden opportunity for the adaptable Augment if he
can repeat his effort of five weeks ago at odds of nearly 28-1.
After setting the easy pace in the 11/8 mile Del Mar Derby, Augment
fought back in deep stretch along the inside to pass Wordly but was
overtaken on the far outside by the victorious Medici Code by three
–quarters of a length. In his turf debut at Del Mar on August 9th,
Augment tallied from far back to win by a game nose over an
allowance / optional claiming field.
Leonard Lavin’s Glen Hill Farm owns the Kentucky bred bay, who
will have regular rider Richard Migliore aboard while starting from
the number nine position.
‘He’s a good young horse and we’re expecting a lot from him,’
said Gallagher.
With only two weeks to the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred
Championships, though, there would not be time to get him ready
this year, he said. ‘We’ll more seriously consider that next year.
But we’ve always liked him.’
‘He’s very honest,’ Migliore said,’ he shows up every time, and
the good thing about him is, if they go real slow he’ll make the
running: if they go fast he’ll settle in. He won’t be a victim of
pace or the way the race is run. He kind of makes his own
trip.’
Augment has a 3-3-0 record from eight starts in 2007 with
earnings of $204,560.
Date:
12 October 2007