Susan Roy's GI Donn H. contender Sloane Avenue (Candy Ride {Arg}) got acquainted with Gulfstream Park for the first time yesterday morning, galloping 1 1/4 miles under exercise rider Wayne Tanner. The 4-year-old Jeremy Noseda trainee arrived in Florida from England Sunday, and will make his conventional dirt debut in Saturday's $500,000 Donn.
“I thought he moved great,” Noseda said. “He's a very relaxed horse early on in his gallop. He wasn't really concentrating, but once he got down the lane and got into his bridle I was delighted. He looked to be in great order.”
Sloane Avenue is three-for-three on Polytrack, having most recently annexed Kempton's Hyde S. Nov. 19. The half-brother to American GSW Carve (First Samurai) and SW Apropos (First Samurai) was eighth on soft grass in Belmont's Oct. 4 GIII Hill Prince S. in his lone previous Stateside outing.
“I'm more than hopeful,” Noseda said of his charge's chances. “I'm sort of quietly confident that he will handle the dirt really well.” Noseda's last trip to Gulfstream came for the 1989 Breeders' Cup, 10 years before The Stronach Group purchased and reconstructed the facility. “It looks a lot different from 1989, that's for sure,” Noseda said. “The track looks the same, just the grandstand has changed significantly.”
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