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Gayego Could Give Lobo a Thrill Ride
Trainer Paulo Lobo, left, who grew up in a horse racing family in Brazil, reacts after Kentucky Derby-bound Gayego won the Arkansas Derby on April 12.
(By Danny Johnston -- Associated Press)
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"After he won the San Pedro, I had a chance to run seven furlongs in February [the San Vicente Stakes, won by Georgie Boy], but I decided to skip it because we had only three weeks [since the prior race] and I wanted to freshen him up a little bit. Then I wanted to go directly to two turns in March."
Two turns meant it was time to ask the question about Gayego's ability to perform in a route, not just sprint. Lobo said in preparing, he practiced the lessons learned from his father.
"The most important thing he passed on to me is you have to have patience, and you have to respect the horse in every way."
On March 15, in the 1 1/16 -mile San Felipe, Gayego finished second in one of the most exciting races of the Triple Crown prep season. He stalked the pace of Bob Black Jack, who over the winter set a track record at Santa Anita, and forged to the front at the top of the stretch.
Bob Black Jack refused to go away and the two hooked up in a mesmerizing struggle, until another colt, Georgie Boy, came from third place to catch them both on the wire.
From there, Lobo decided he needed to see if Gayego could transfer his ability from the synthetic surface at Santa Anita to dirt, which he would run on if good enough to make it to the Kentucky Derby. While many of the other top California horses remained home for the Santa Anita Derby, Lobo and Gayego lit out across the country for Oaklawn Park in Arkansas.
Gaining perfect striking position in a field of 13, Gayego won the $1 million Arkansas Derby by three-quarters of a length in a race that lacked top Kentucky Derby contenders but produced excellent speed figures.
Now, Lobo heads to Churchill Downs full of confidence. He believes Gayego only needs to improve a little more and get a clear trip to win.
"It's going to mean a lot to me," he said of victory. "Again, for everybody, when you work in another country, it's tough. It's not easy."
