Derby Bubble Horse Frammento Breezes
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Mossarosa's Frammento, fourth in the April 4 Toyota Blue Grass (gr. I) last time out, worked an easy half-mile on his own after the renovation break April 16 at Keeneland.
The Midshipman colt went the distance in :51 1/5 under Sophie Doyle for Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito, leaving from the three-eighths pole and covering the first three furlongs in :38 3/5.
"I just want to keep things easy," Zito said of Frammento, who stands 23rd on the road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) with 20 points obtained with the Blue Grass finish and a third-place finish in the Fountain of Youth (gr. II).
The top 20 point earners that pass the entry box secure a spot in the gate for the $2 million race on May 2.
"Judging by all the calls I am getting from (jockey) agents, I think we are going to get in," Zito said. "If, say, by next Saturday the 25th it doesn't look like he will make it, we will go straight to the Preakness (gr. I on May 16) and then to the Belmont (gr. I on June 6)."
Zito, who won the Kentucky Derby in 1991 with Strike the Gold and in 1994 with Go for Gin, said Frammento likely would work again at Keeneland on Saturday, April 25. Frammento already has experience at Churchill Downs, having raced and trained there last fall.
"He is a true distance horse. After the Blue Grass, (jockey) Gary (Stevens) assured me this was a top horse," Zito said. "I put Sophie on him today because she reminds me a lot of Max (Maxine Correa), who works a lot of my horses."