Plenty of Promise for Albertrani in '16

After closing out 2015 on a decidedly strong note, trainer Tom Albertrani has plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the status of his barn at the outset of the 2016 season. As a trainer known for his typically patient approach, Albertrani admitted that he was pleased to see a number of his runners graduate from the maiden ranks early in their careers.

The trainer kicked off his most recent string of success when Always Thinking (Street Sense) won at first asking in a Dec. 23 dash at Gulfstream Park. Dismissed at odds of 19-1, the filly closed from 10 lengths off the pace to win going away by 1 1/2 lengths.

“[Always Thinking] came out of the race really well,” Albertrani said. “I'm not sure if I'd be jumping the gun to step her up into a little stake [next out], but I think I'm just going to see how she trains over the next couple of weeks before I decide where she goes next. I guess we could get a little brave and run her in the [Jan. 30 GII] Forward Gal, but I would probably look at a non-winners of two race before jumping her up into something like that.”

Given that Always Thinking demonstrated a late-running style over a sometimes speed-favoring surface, Albertrani added that he believes the bay will likely improve over increasing distances.

“I thought she ran a very impressive race in her first start, making up that kind of ground coming from last to first over a track that hasn't been very helpful toward closing horses,” the trainer explained.

Just four days later, West Point Thoroughbreds' Awesome Dame (Awesome of Course) kept the ball rolling for Albertrani with a wire-to-wire score going one mile in Hallandale Dec. 27. Despite drifting out in the stretch, Albertrani said that the $70,000 OBS March acquisition should fit well in restricted stakes company in Ocala later this month.

“She came out of the race fine,” the conditioner noted. “She was drifting quite a bit in that last race. I didn't quite know where that was coming from, but it seemed like she came out of the race fine. We're most likely headed to Ocala with her on Jan. 26 for the [OBS Championship S.].”

Robert C. Baker and William L. Mack's Giant Run (Giant's Causeway) added another victory for Albertrani in the New Year, wiring a full field of maidens over a grassy 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream Jan. 2. The colt has demonstrated clear aptitude over the lawn, earning Beyer Speed Figures of 89 and 90 for his two efforts over the surface. Now equipped with a win under his belt, the trainer said he is confident that his Maryland-bred charge has a future in stakes company.

“His two turf races were very promising races,” Albertrani noted. “Apart from his previous race back on the dirt, he definitely came back and ran every bit as well in his second turf race. So we definitely have high expectations for him as well. I'm not sure whether we'd be rushing him back in the [Jan. 30] Kitten's Joy S. or maybe the [Feb. 27 GIII] Palm Beach S. later on, but I definitely think he'll fit well in those kind of races.”

While Albertrani has enjoyed plenty of racing action at Gulfstream, the trainer is also busy in the mornings at Palm Meadows Training Center preparing a pair of talented fillies for their sophomore debuts. Desert Tune (Street Cry {Ire})–fifth in the GI Frizette S. Oct. 3–and Libreta (Girolamo)–sixth in the GII Matron S. Oct. 18–worked four furlongs in :51.90 and :50.90, respectively, Monday morning.

“Both are doing well–we brought them down [to Florida] and basically gave them a nice freshening over the last couple of months,” the trainer said. “We should see them both back in the entries pretty soon. With Desert Tune, we may switch over to the turf in the middle of the month and bring her back in a non-winners of two. There's some turf on her side as well, being [a half-sister to MGISW] Better Lucky. Better Lucky was very good on the turf, but she managed to run well on both surfaces. I think Desert Tune may be more [of a turf type].”

Albertrani added that he is also looking forward to the seasonal debut of Estelle (Distorted Humor), who broke her maiden over a mile at Aqueduct Nov. 11. The Godolphin-owned gray has posted two four-furlong breezes at Palm Meadows since her arrival to South Florida. She is joined by male counterparts Wheels Up Now (Smart Strike) and Toughest 'Ombre (Tale of the Cat) as other newly minted sophomores expected to compete in the near future.

“We've been sitting on a good season with our [3-year-olds],” reflected Albertrani. “I think we have some interesting horses to follow this season. I think from a year ago, we've had close to 10 2-year olds already break their maiden. So it's a pretty promising year for our 3-year-olds, hopefully.”