Ete Indien, Sole Volante Return in Gulfstream Allowance

Graded stakes winners Sole Volante and Ete Indien are scheduled to prep for upcoming major stakes engagements June 10 at Gulfstream Park, where the Patrick Biancone-trained duo will be joined by Curlin Florida Derby (G1) runner-up Shivaree in a $55,000 allowance optional claiming event for 3-year-olds at a mile carded as Race 9.

Sole Volante is being pointed to the June 20 Belmont Stakes (G1), while Ete Indien is a candidate for the July 18 TVG.com Haskell Invitational (G1) at Monmouth Park. Shivaree is a prospect for the Haskell or the July 11 Toyota Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland.

The trio of prominent 3-year-olds tops a seven-horse field that also includes stakes winners With Verve and Soros, as well as recent winners Jesus' Team and Hard Lighting.

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Andie Biancone's Sole Volante closed from 11th to finish second to King Guillermo last out in the March 7 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2). The gelded son of Karakontie , who had beaten King Guillermo in the Nov. 30 Pulpit Stakes over Gulfstream's turf course, was third in his dirt debut in the Jan. 4 Mucho Macho Man Stakes before tuning up for the Tampa Bay Derby with a victory in the Feb. 8 Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa. 

Video: Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2)

Ete Indien, owned by Linda Shanahan, Sanford Bacon, Dream With Me Stable, D P Racing, Horse France America, and Patrick L. Biancone Racing, most recently finished third behind Tiz the Law after setting the pace in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream March 28. The son of Summer Front , who also began his career on turf, finished second behind Tiz the Law in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) Feb. 1 in his second dirt start before scoring an 8 1/2-length triumph in the Feb. 29 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream.

"These two horses haven't run for a long time. I want to see where we are as far as fitness. The rain last week changed my plans for training," Biancone said. "Hey, nothing is better than a good prep race. Before we travel a long way, we want to see where we are. I think it will be good for them. Gulfstream Park has been kind enough to provide us with a race that we can run in."

Sole Volante and Ete Indien breezed three times in May before Biancone called off workouts scheduled for June 5 in favor of running them Wednesday.

Luca Panici has the mount on Sole Volante, who he rode to victory in the Sam F. Davis, while Florent Geroux has the return call on Ete Indien. Ete Indien, already a winner going a one-turn mile, adds blinkers.

Biancone believes the time away has benefited Sole Volante, allowing him to put on weight.

"He's grown and matured everywhere—physically and mentally, too. He's a man now and he was a boy before," Biancone said. 

Jacks or Better Farm's Shivaree finished three-quarters of a length ahead of Ete Indien while running second behind Tiz the Law in the Florida Derby at 80-1 odds.

Video: Curlin Florida Derby (G1)

The Ralph Nicks-trained son of Awesome of Course previously finished second behind With Verve in the Feb. 29 Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

"All's well. He got a little bit of a freshening, and he should be ready to go," said Nicks, whose trainee had a series of four workouts at Gulfstream in May.

Emisael Jaramillo has the return mount aboard Shivaree.