Wildcat Red taking shot at Vosburgh

Wildcat Red, based at Gulfstream for most of the year, is being pointed for the Grade 1, $400,000 Vosburgh on Sept. 26 at Belmont Park, trainer Jose Garoffalo said on Tuesday. Wildcat Red was a bold fourth to Private Zone in the Forego at Saratoga in his most recent start Aug. 29. He pushed a hot pace in the seven-furlong race, which went in 1:21, and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 95. “He ran a heck of a race,” said Garoffalo, who trains Wildcat Red for Salvatore and Josie Delfino. “He tried. I was happy with the race. He competed with maybe the best sprinters in the country. We’re very happy with him.”

Garoffalo said Wildcat Red was to ship from Saratoga to Belmont on Wednesday. Jose Lezcano rode the horse in the Forego and has the mount in the six-furlong Vosburgh. Wildcat Red won last year’s Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream and was second by a neck in the Florida Derby. Garoffalo said he plans to focus on sprinting with the horse, who became a millionaire Aug. 2 when he won the $111,000 Teddy Drone Stakes at six furlongs at Monmouth Park. Earlier in the summer, Wildcat Red was third in the Grade 2 Smile Sprint at Gulfstream. “I’m going to keep him short distances from now on,” said Garoffalo, adding that Wildcat Red is stronger and heavier this year at 4. Garoffalo has a 23-horse division at Gulfstream.