June 20 - Top-rated American racehorse trainer, Kiaran McLaughlin, is hoping
that his South American-bred colt, Taconeo, will deliver a win in the same style
as many of his other great colts over the years, in today's $75,000 Yankee
Victor Stakes at Belmont Park, New York.
While McLaughlin, or anyone else for that matter, would be hard-pressed to
compare Taconeo with his great 2006 Horse of the Year, Invasor, the
trainer says he likes what he has seen so far in Taconeo, and is eager to watch
how the 4-year-old colt performs in today's Yankee Victor Stakes.
During his career, Taconeo has won 12 out of 18 starts, including nine
consecutive wins between January 28th to August 12th last year. However, that
achievement, coupled with several group stakes victories, has critics
questioning the colt's standard of competition, particularly after his last
race.
In the Caribe in Puerto Rico (Grade 1) on December 2nd last year, Taconeo was
the 3-5 race favorite. However, he ended up placing fourth out of the 10-horse
field and, since then, McLaughlin has chosen to sit the horse out and prepare
him instead for the Yankee Victor Stakes.
McLaughlin has admitted said that he is unsure as to just how tough Taconeo's
previous Grade 1 competition actually was. And, for this reason, he has opted
for the colt to race at Belmont today, as opposed to in the Suburban Handicap.
'However, you just don't know', said McLaughlin.
As the featured event (race 3) of the 9-race card at Belmont Park, most punters
will be eager to see how Taconeo and the other five runners handle the 1 1/16
mile track. And while there are no superstars in this year's Yankee Victor
Stakes, there should be some solid racing action.
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