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Ramblin’ Wreck looks to double up on stakes scores in NYSSS Cab Calloway

by Christian Abdo

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Peter Searles and Patty Searles’ New York-bred Ramblin’ Wreck looks to return to the winner’s circle in Thursday’s $150,000 Cab Calloway division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series, a one-mile inner turf test for eligible New York-sired sophomores at Saratoga Race Course.
 
Ramblin’ Wreck is coming off a one-length victory in the $150,000 NYSSS Spectacular Bid on June 18 going seven-furlongs over the Widener turf at Belmont Park. Trained by Danny Gargan, the gelding swiftly moved from last-to-first under Irad Ortiz, Jr. against a competitive eight-horse field that included returning rivals Twenty Six Black, Vacation Dance and Itsallcomintogetha.
 
A half-brother to multiple stakes winning stablemate Dakota Gold, Ramblin’ Wreck’s connections have had high expectations for the chestnut following his first stakes win. He responded with a strong workout over the Oklahoma dirt training track, covering a half-mile in 48.77 seconds on July 13.
 
“He and Dakota Gold are right next to each other in my stable. He worked well here on Thursday,” said Gargan. “Hopefully, he can repeat what he did last time.”
 
Bred in the Empire State by Ron Bowden, Ramblin’ Wreck was purchased for $140,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-Bred Yearling Sale.
 
Ortiz Jr. retains the mount from post 7.
 
Roger Cimbora, Jr.’s New York homebred Twenty Six Black has won 2-of-4 lifetime starts and enters from a second-place finish behind Ramblin’ Wreck last time out in the Spectacular Bid under returning rider Manny Franco.
 
The son of War Dancer came from 5 1/2 lengths off the pace to win by 4 3/4 lengths at six furlongs versus older state-bred allowance company two starts back on May 13 at Belmont. Trainer Horacio De Paz will stretch the colt out to one mile for the first time on Thursday.
 
“Manny thinks he will handle the distance. It all depends on how the race shapes out,” said De Paz. “It’s a great spot to give it a try.”
 
Since arriving at Saratoga, the bay colt has worked once with a four-furlong breeze Thursday over the main track in 50.24.
 
“He’s doing well,” said De Paz. “It was just a maintenance work because he’s fit and ready to go. I don’t want to overdo it, was just an easy work.”
 
Twenty Six Black will emerge from the outermost post 8.
 
Sleeping Giant Stables, America’s Pastime Stables and KimDon Racing’s Vacation Dance [post 4, Kendrick Carmouche], trained by John Kimmel, finished fourth in the Spectacular Bid. He earned graded black type with a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Futurity in October at Belmont at the Big A.
 
The grey son of The Lieutenant, bred in the Empire State by Harry Landry and James Hogan, sports a ledger of 7-2-0-2 for purse earnings of $162,640, including a win against open company in the six-furlong Atlantic Beach in November at Aqueduct Racetrack.
 
A new face in the Cab Calloway will be Alex Kazdan’s Mama Banned Me, breaking from post 5 with Dalton Brown in the irons. Trained by Norman C. Follett, the Laoban gelding was claimed for $30,000 out of a fifth-place effort in his first start against winners last out on June 15 at Belmont.
 
Completing the field are Gem Mint Ten [post 1, Dylan Davis] for conditioner Ray Handal, the Phil Serpe-trained Itsallcomintogetha [post 2, Jose Gomez], Laurel Valley [post 3, Tyler Gaffalione] for trainer Michael Maker, and Willintoriskitall [post 6, Luis Saez] for conditioner Jose D’Angelo. The Orlando Noda-trained stakes-winner Jackson Heights is entered for the main track only.
 
The NYSSS Cab Calloway is slated as the final race on Thursday’s 10-race card. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.   

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