Twenty Six Black tries his luck in $125K Ashley T. Cole

Roger Cimbora, Jr.’s homebred Twenty Six Black will try for his first stakes score in Saturday’s $125,000 Ashley T. Cole, a six-furlong outer turf sprint for New York-breds 3-years-old and up, at Belmont at the Big A. 

Trained by Horacio De Paz, the 5-year-old War Dancer gelding was a one-length fourth when making his seasonal debut in the local six-furlong Listed Elusive Quality on May 3. There, he traveled in sixth early, went wide around the turn and could not reel in the prominent My Boy Prince, who exited to run second in the Grade 1 Jaipur on June 8 at Saratoga Race Course. 

Twenty Six Black was nosed out of show-honors by Alogon, who finished that same margin behind returning rival Bold Journey for second. Both of those foes contested the Jaipur next, Alogon landing third. Twenty Six Black matched his career-best 92 Beyer Speed Figure in the classy defeat. 

“That was a very honest effort against horses that ran in the Jaipur, and who went second and third in there,” said De Paz. “He got on the bit going around the turn, but lost a little bit of ground. He ran honest to the wire, just barely got beat by some nice horses.” 

Twenty Six Black has made five starts over Saturday’s course and distance with three wins, including an open optional-claiming score in September under returning rider Ricardo Santana, Jr. that earned a 92 Beyer. As a sophomore, he was a game second to Ramblin’ Wreck in the 2023 NYSSS Spectacular Bid sprinting seven furlongs over the Belmont Park green.

“I actually thought about running him in the Jaipur, but with this New York-bred race coming up, I was fine giving him space between races,” De Paz said. “I would think he’d take a step forward, especially with the timing, it seems like he puts a lot into his races and we are keeping him fresh.” 

Twenty Six Black [post 1, Ricardo Santana, Jr.] is out of the First Dude mare Brazo de Oro, who also produced turf stakes-placed Can’t Fool Me for De Paz. Twenty Six Black has banked $351,560 through a lifetime record of 12-5-3-1. 

“He is consistent. He seems to be an old pro, who wants to be competitive, and he has always been very professional and forward since he was a two-year-old,” said De Paz. “He was so close last out, and he looks like he wants to continue to step up, so we’ll see where he takes us this year.”  

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Darlene Bilinski’s Senbei [post 5, Manny Franco] would be a tough rival if he runs back to his top form from last year. Trained by Miguel Clement, the 6-year-old Candy Ride gelding captured the Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint over course and distance in October which earned a career-best 99 Beyer. 

Senbei did not run back to that number in his two subsequent outings, missing the board in the local Listed Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship and the six-furlong synthetic Holiday Cheer in December at Turfway Park. In his lone outing this year, Senbei was a 1 1/4-length fifth in the Elusive Quality, but only a nose back of Twenty Six Black after some bumping at the break. 

Senbei, bred by Dr. Jerry Bilinski out of the winning Western Cat mare Sweet Aloha, is a half-brother to multiple stakes-winners Filibustin and Indy’s Lady. He was the 2021 Champion NYTB 2-Year-Old Male after a trio of state-bred dirt sprint stakes wins, and he also captured the Listed Gold Fever as a sophomore, among his 20-7-2-1 record with $649,125 in earnings.

Gary Barber, Pantofel Stable and Wachtel Stable’s Bold Journey [post 3, Jose Lezcano] is a graded stakes-winner on dirt and has made 23-of-27 starts on the main track. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the 6-year-old Hard Spun chestnut was dismissed by bettors when returning to turf two starts back in the Elusive Quality, closing from last for a one-length second to My Boy Prince at odds of 22-1. 

Handicappers will have their work cut out for them as Bold Journey, Twenty Six Black and Senbei all received 92 Beyers for their tight finish in the Elusive Quality. 

Bold Journey trailed early once again in the Jaipur last out, but did not show the same turn of foot as over the local green. He has made some of his best efforts on the Big A main track, capturing the 2023 Grade 3 Fall Highweight Handicap and Listed Gravesend, both six-furlong tests, the latter earning a career-best 100 Beyer. 

Rounding out the field is multiple graded stakes-placed Run Curtis Run [post 2, Javier Castellano], who steps into stakes company for the first time since November 2023 for trainer Mike Maker; and dirt stakes-placed Locke and Key [post 4, Lane Luzzi] for conditioner James Ryerson. 

Factually Correct, Acoustic Ave, Antonio of Venice and Jackson Heights are entered for the main track-only. 

The Ashley T. Cole is slated as Race 3 on Saturday’s 11-race card. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.

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