Schivarelli and Morley Reunited

Trainer Tom Morley first encountered the 6-year-old Schivarelli (Montbrook) back in 2014 when the horse was under the care of trainer Eddie Kenneally. The gelding was claimed away from Kenneally in August of this year and Morley has been trying to get him in his stable since. The third time proved to be the charm as the Englishman haltered Schivarelli for $50,000 Saturday after a seven-length victory at Aqueduct.

“I was helping Eddie out when this horse was on the New York Triple Crown trail, so I've known Schiv for a long time,” Morley said. “He is a horse I know incredibly well and I know his ability level too. As soon as I saw him back in for a tag after Eddie lost him, I texted him and said, 'Any change in Schiv?' He said, 'No, not at all. You should go claim him.” And that is what I've been trying to do.”

Third in last term's GIII Ack Ack H., Schivarelli was claimed from Kenneally, Pike Place Racing and Homewrecker Racing by David Jacobson for $62,500 after finishing a troubled eighth behind Neolithic (Harlan's Holiday) in a Saratoga optional claimer Aug, 5. Jacobson dropped him in for $20,000 at Belmont Sept. 17 and he not only won, but was claimed again by Drawing Away Stable and trainer Robert Falcone, Jr.

Falcone ran back for $40,000 at Belmont Oct. 20, where Schivarelli finished third and was claimed yet again by Rudy Rodriguez and Ben Modello. Morley finally got his hands on the popular chestnut Saturday after he romped by a geared-down seven lengths in a $50,000 claimer at Aqueduct.

“I actually went for him for $20,000, for $40,000 and for $50,000,” Morley said. “He is a horse who loves Aqueduct. When you know these horses inside and out, it gives you an awful lot more confidence in what they are like now.”

Schivarelli is entered in Aqueduct's Thanksgiving day feature, the GIII Fall Highweight H., but Morley says it is highly unlikely that the horse will run back on such a quick turnaround.

“I almost certainly not going to run him on Thursday,” Morley said. “It is 100-1 shot, but he was nominated, so I entered him for the sake of just putting him in there and having a look. I'm 99% sure I am not going to run as the Fall Highweight looks like a wonderfully strong renewal. It is wonderfully strong if you're a neutral watching it, but if you have a horse of Schiv's ability, you are probably in the wrong spot there.”

When asked what was in store for his long lost pal, Morley said, “He did just win for $50,000 by seven, eased down on the line. He is a horse not far away from the caliber of these horses, but he is also the type of horse that we need to put in the right spots. There wasn't much time between the claim and the draw of the race and I didn't know who was going in there. I've got him and now I can assess him. He hasn't even been back to the track yet, so we will see what I've got.”