Soldi Stable LLC's Gabaldon (Gone Astray), impressive debut victory in Gulfstream's Royal Palm Juvenile May 11, will target the upcoming Royal Ascot meet, according to his trainer Jose D'Angelo Wednesday.
The Royal Palm Juvenile, a five-furlong turf sprint for 2-year-olds, offered the winner an automatic stakes berth at Royal Ascot, as well as a $25,000 travel stipend. A $9,000 purchase at last year's OBS October sale, the Florida-bred set half-mile fractions of :21.33 and :43.80 under heavy pressure before kicking clear to win by 1 1/4 lengths in :56.20.
“I knew he was ready. When we worked him in company, he was perfect,” D'Angelo said. “We bought the horse with the idea to run him in the Florida Sire Stakes. One day, when I tried him on the grass, he was better on grass than dirt. So that's why we tried him in the stake. I thought he would run big. They went fast. I think he has a big chance to win over there.”
The George Weaver-trained Crimson Advocate captured the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies at Gulfstream before winning the G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot last year.
D'Angelo has already made three trans-Atlantic trips for stakes engagements in recent years.
MGISP Jesus' Team finished sixth in the 2021 G1 Dubai World Cup. In February, D'Angelo finished third in the G3 Saudi Derby with MSW Bentornato and in March, he traveled to Dubai with Caramel Chip, who finished sixth in the G2 Godolphin Mile.
“We're very excited to go to Royal Ascot. We went to Saudi with Bentornato. We went to Dubai with Jesus' Team and Caramel Chip. We almost got to the [Kentucky] Derby with No More Time this year,” said D'Angelo, who saddled Grade III winner No More Time. “I'm feeling so blessed and happy to go to all the places the horses have brought me. For a while my goal was to run there, now we have to win over there.”
Emisael Jaramillo will ride Gabaldon at Royal Ascot.
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