After being away for more than four months since finishing fourth in the Florida Derby (gr. I), Lael Stable’s Lentenor , a full brother to 2006 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Barbaro, returned to racing with third-place finish in a $36,000 allowance at Delaware Park Aug. 24 (VIDEO).
With Jose Valdivia, Jr., aboard he finished 1 1/2 lengths behind the winner Inauguration, who returned $13.60 as third choice in the field of nine. The final time for the 7 1/2 furlongs was 1:28.34 over a firm turf course.
“He has been away from the races for four months and we obviously would like him to win, but it seemed like the way it set up, maybe it was a little short to him,” said Lentenor’s trainer Michael Matz. “Hopefully, he should come a long way out of this race. We are not sure where we are going next until we see how he came out of this race.”
This was Lentenor’s first start at Delaware. His career record is a win from six starts with earnings of $83,660. In his career debut, Barbaro broke his maiden by 8 1/2 lengths on the turf at Delaware in October, 2005. The other full brother Nicanor, who is entered at Delaware tomorrow in the $50,000 Eight Thirty Stakes, is unbeaten in three starts over the course.