This is a Triple Crown query for you.
Who’s the one undefeated, grade 1-winning on filth 3-year-old nonetheless in coaching for the Kentucky Derby (G1)?
No dishonest with Google or synthetic intelligence.
If you’re searching for assist from the High 5 of most lists, reminiscent of BloodHorse’s Derby Dozen, or the Nationwide Thoroughbred Racing Affiliation ballot, you will not discover him there, which has his coach understandably miffed.
The three-year-old in query is Gold Sq.’s Napoleon Solo , who was final seen within the beginning gate Oct. 4 at Aqueduct Racetrack when he registered what was in some eyes essentially the most dazzling efficiency of the 12 months by a 2-year-old.Join BloodHorse Each day
In simply his second profession begin, he reeled off electrifying, front-running fractions of 1:07.88 and 1:20.90 and romped by 6 1/2 lengths within the prestigious Champagne Stakes (G1), protecting the one-turn mile in 1:34.57.
But now, as he prepares at Palm Seashore Downs for his 3-year-old debut Feb. 28 in both the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park or the mile Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct, Napoleon Solo has change into an afterthought in most Triple Crown conversations. He’s tenth on this week’s NTRA High 3-12 months-Outdated ballot and priced at 25-1 on this weekend’s Kentucky Derby Future Wager after going off at 30-1 within the earlier spherical.
“Lots of people have given up on us and forgotten about us,” coach Chad Summers stated about proprietor Al Gold’s son of Liam’s Map  named for ‘The Man from U.N.C.L.E.’ character. “I take a look at polls and rankings. Some individuals do not even have us within the high 10. For some motive, regardless that he ran the quickest 2-year-old race of the 12 months, persons are ignoring him.”
There are a number of causes for that.
One entails Summers. In a chase dominated by Corridor of Fame and future Corridor of Fame trainers, Napoleon Solo can be his first Kentucky Derby starter as a coach. Although he owned and educated a number of group 1 winner Thoughts Your Biscuits and has been round quite a few high horses, he has simply 98 profession wins and 4 graded stakes triumphs since 2017.Â
“It is fascinating that the velocity he reveals is much like a Bob Baffert sort of horse that might be primary on everybody’s radar. He received by 6 1/2 lengths. Nobody was attending to him after he was a fifth of a second off the monitor report for six and seven furlongs. However due to the connections, or no matter it could be, we now have to maintain proving ourselves. You are at all times the underdog,” Summers stated. “I’m so grateful to Al for giving me the chance to work for Gold Sq. and practice this horse.”
Napoleon Solo, a son of the Scat Daddy mare Atomic Blonde, additionally skipped the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar, a call not one of the connections remorse as a result of cross-country journey after a demanding race.
“Transport to California, it is tough for a younger horse. They’re so evenly raced,” Â Summers stated.
He was purchased for simply $40,000 from the Glennwood Farm consignment on the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and is vying for Triple Crown glory in opposition to million-dollar rivals. In fact, 1977 Triple Crown champion Seattle Slew was purchased for simply $17,500.
Photograph: Anne M. EberhardtChad Summers
“He was bred by John Gunther (and Eurowest Bloodstock), who bred Justify and Vino Rosso. He was a $40,000 buy and stud farms have come out to have a look at him they usually thought he will need to have had 5 legs or two legs to promote for that worth. It was simply the best way we work the gross sales and we had been fortunate to be in the best place on the proper time and have somebody like Al belief us in shopping for this horse,” Summers stated. “The Gunthers have raised some nice horses and we had been fortunate it was on the finish of the day and lots of people left for the day and we had been capable of profit from it.”
In a number of weeks, Napoleon Solo will get the prospect to show the critics incorrect. His return will likely be in both the Fountain of Youth or Gotham with the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) on March 7 as a backup if wanted. The Fountain of Youth and Gotham each provide 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying factors, so a win in both would guarantee the colt of a spot within the Run for the Roses discipline. With 10 factors within the financial institution from the Champagne, even a second would put him in glorious place to achieve the magic variety of 50 factors.
Although touring to New York can be difficult, Summers stated he doesn’t really feel stress to have Napoleon Solo make his two-turn debut with the primary Saturday in Might greater than two months away.
“We’ll weigh the professionals and cons of every race and the place we’re from a health standpoint,” Summers stated. “You take a look at the climate and the competitors. We all know his finest effort has to return within the Kentucky Derby. You don’t want to peak too early. Clearly, the two-turn query needs to be answered sooner or later. However do we’d like the reply on the twenty eighth? No. No matter race we select, he can have a goal on his again. They’ll see that grey horse and know the place he’s going to be.”
Within the meantime, Napoleon Solo will put in two extra works earlier than his return to the races. In his final breeze Feb. 5 at Palm Meadows, jockey Kendrick Carmouche (who will experience him in that subsequent begin) was aboard for a piece timed in :48.
“He began behind a horse and got here dwelling in 22 and three or 4 and galloped out in 1:14. He is only a particular horse,” Summers stated.
It was certainly a promising transfer as Summers and a colt named for a tv spy attempt to upend the cynics.
“It is a good time of 12 months and thrilling to be in these positions, and hopefully, we make the best choice for our horse. The horse comes first in all our choices,” Summers stated. “To get this horse to the Kentucky Derby for Al can be an unimaginable thrill.”
