From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (June 17, 2023) — Kid Corleone, a graduate of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association January Sale, looks to be a serious player the second half of the year for trainer Doug O’Neill after a sparkling win in his seasonal bow Friday at Santa Anita.
Sent off the 2-1 second choice in a six-furlong allowance on dirt, Kid Corleone dueled through a sharp opening half mile in 44.44 seconds and kept right on going under Santa Anita leading rider Juan Hernandez to win by 1 ½ lengths. The winning time was a swift 1:08.85, which earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure.
A 4-year-old Shackleford colt bred by The Quarter Company, Kid Corleone was making his first start since finishing sixth in last year’s GII Santa Anita Sprint Championship on Oct. 1. He has now won three of six starts with $139,400 in earnings for owners Roadrunner racing and Barbara Evenson.
O’Neill reported all was well with Kid Corleone the day after his return.
“All is good. We’re very happy with his comeback,” the trainer said via text message. “There are lots of options ahead for him, but nothing specific in mind yet.”
Checking in last behind Kid Corleone was GI winner American Theorem, who was making his first start since running eighth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint Nov. 5 at Keeneland. American Theorem stalked the pace before flattening out in the stretch. He would finish 6 ¾ lengths behind the winner as the even money favorite.
Trainer George Papaprodomou indicated American Theorem would likely need a race following his break and that certainly appeared to be the case on Friday.
“He’s fine,” Papaprodromou said. “They went fast and he needed one.”