I Know I Know, who will be seeking to win his third consecutive race Saturday when he starts in the $95,000 Armed Forces at Gulfstream Park, is a rare type of starter for longtime trainer Patrick Biancone.
“I’m the proud breeder,” he said.
Biancone – who has one broodmare – bred and co-owns I Know I Know. The son of Jess’s Dream and the Big Drama mare Prove Me should go favored in the 10-horse Armed Forces. The one-mile turf race for 2-year-olds is one of two stakes on a card that starts at 12 p.m. Eastern. The $95,000 Showing Up for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf drew 12.
I Know I Know was a winner over entry-level allowance foes in his last start Oct. 11. The two-turn race was moved from turf to Tapeta. Prior to that, I Know I Know won his maiden over 7 1/2 furlongs on turf. He stalked the pace, came into the stretch in fourth, and quickened late to catch a loose-on-the-lead rival.
“He just wants some distance of ground and turf,” Biancone said. “I think the race he won on the turf, the last 100 yards, his action was unbelievable, you know. But here we are – we need to go to the next step.”
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Biancone, who races I Know I Know with Amy E. Dunne, has given the mount to Joe Bravo. I Know I Know will break from post 10.
“He’s a very relaxed horse,” Biancone said. “He doesn’t pull. He’ll just follow the pace, hopefully.”
Tank will start from the rail for breeder Arindel after wiring his rivals by 8 3/4 lengths in his two-turn debut Oct. 20. The start came against $50,000 maiden-claiming rivals, and he earned a strong Beyer Speed Figure of 72.
“We decided, with the owner, to give him a shot on the Tapeta going long. He’s bred for it,” trainer Carlos David said.
From there, Tank was pointed to the Armed Forces, largely because of the opportunity to keep him at two turns, David said.
“He came out of the race in good shape,” he said of the maiden score. “Normally, I don’t wheel them back that soon. He’s a big, healthy horse. He’s a little chunky. I thought, ‘Why not?’
“Looking at the nominations, it kind of made sense to give him a try. I think it’s going to be challenging. You’ve got to start somewhere. The horse is sound and feeling good, and we’ll give him a try and see where he’s at.”
Tank’s name reflects the stout physique of the son of Adios Charlie.
“The Adios Charlies, the ones that I’ve trained, they’re a pretty decent size and they’re good eaters,” David said.
Edgard Zayas has the mount Saturday.
Bridle a Butterfly, who was second to I Know I Know in the allowance, returns in the Armed Forces, while stakes winner Naughty Rascal will make his turf debut Saturday.
◗ In the Showing Up, General Ledger, who has been racing against graded company in Virginia and Kentucky, returns to the Gulfstream turf over which he registered his most recent win July 19.
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