Now in his 20th year as a trainer, Southern California-based George Papaprodromou is on pace for the most lucrative season of his career.
Since saddling his first starter in 2003, Papaprodromou's stable had topped the $1 million mark in earnings just once. That was in 2014, when Imperative won the Charles Town Classic (G2) and hit the board in three other graded stakes, including the Pacific Classic (G1) and Hollywood Gold Cup (G1), to lead the barn to $1.9 million in earnings.
Papaprodromou is on pace to eclipse that mark this season. Through the first 6 1/2 months of the year, the barn already has banked $1,207,190. The 46-year-old native of Cyprus also won his first graded stakes since 2014 at Santa Anita 18 days ago when American Theorem upset the Triple Bend (G2) for longtime client Kretz Racing.
It was also last month that Papaprodromou saw his stable suddenly swell in size. He has taken over the training duties of about 60 horses previously conditioned by Richard Baltas, who on May 12 was "temporarily suspended" by Santa Anita's parent company from entering or working horses pending an investigation into an alleged medication violation.
As a result, Papaprodromou now oversees a second string at San Luis Rey Downs and about 100 horses in all. He was in the midst of a strong Santa Anita meet with added clientele prior to this most recent expansion. With the boost, he ranks 10th in the trainer's standings with a record of 23-22-10 from 122 starters, a 19 percent win rate.
"Things are pretty good, picking up as we go," he told Horse Racing Nation on Wednesday. "We sort of got some new clients that wanted to claim and buy at the sales, all that. Things are looking pretty good so far."
In this latest Horse Racing Nation Barn Tour, Papaprodromou provided updates on what might be next for seven of his top talents.
American Theorem. Grade 1-placed as a juvenile in 2019, the ridgling by American Pharoah has dealt with shin problems that have limited him to only 11 starts in 3 1/2 years of racing.
This season, American Theorem won an allowance race in January to kick off the campaign before finishing off the board in the San Pasqual (G2), Santa Anita Handicap (G1) and Kentucky Cup Classic.
Cut back to seven furlongs for the May 29 Triple Bend, American Theorem stalked the pace and took over in the final furlong to win by a nose at 13-1 for his first stakes victory. On the same program, Papaprodromou won three other races for the first four-win day of his career.
American Theorem has yet to work back since the Triple Bend, but he is pointed to the $400,000 Bing Crosby (G1) going six furlongs at Del Mar on July 30.
"We're just giving him a little bit of a break. His next race will be the Bing Crosby, so we have some time," Papaprodromou said.
The six furlongs of the Bing Crosby "might be a little short" for American Theorem, but if all goes well, he'll move on to the $250,000 Pat O'Brien (G2) going seven furlongs on Aug. 27. The Pat O'Brien is a "win and you're in" for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.
American Theorem has a record of 11: 3-3-0 with earnings of $291,697.
Cabo Spirit. After winning the Eddie Logan Stakes on grass in early January, he tested the Triple Crown trail and was second in the Robert B. Lewis (G3), fifth in the San Felipe (G2) and sixth in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on synthetic.
Cabo Spirit exits a runner-up finish in the June 4 Cinema Stakes going a mile on turf at Santa Anita. Papaprodromou said the 3-year-old son of Pioneerof the Nile, who also was beaten at odds-on in the California Derby, was gelded last week.
"He's good, just he was one of the colts that was still acting like a baby with no focus really," he noted. "Hopefully that will help because he's a nice horse. He can run."
Next up for Cabo Spirit, who also is owned by Kretz Racing, is a scheduled start in the $150,000 La Jolla (G3) for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on turf on Aug. 7. That could be followed by the Del Mar Derby (G2) on Sept. 3.
Bicameral. After breaking her maiden for Baltas at Santa Anita April 15, the 3-year-old filly by Constitution tested the deep waters of Sunday's Summertime Oaks (G2), where she finished last of seven after hitting the gate at the start.
"That might have spooked her a little bit," Papaprodromou said of the troubled break. "But she came back fine and we'll regroup."
Thrumps Dream. She won two straight allowances at Santa Anita for Baltas before being transferred last month. The 4-year-old daughter of Dark Angel was entered in the Gamely Stakes (G1) on May 30 and finished last of six, beaten only about 3 1/2 lengths after a slow start.
Papaprodromou said he would speak with the owners about a potential summer plan for former Baltas runners.
"I just got these horses and they are still kind of new to me," he said. "So I'm not sure what we're going to do yet. But she's doing good. I'll check with the owners, see if they maybe had a plan with Richard."
Thrumps Dream is owned by Michael Iavarone, Carroll Boys Racing, Harlow Stables and Jerry McClanahan.
Pioneering Papa. After winning a maiden-claimer for Baltas, the 3-year-old Classic Empire gelding was wheeled back in three weeks for Saturday's Affirmed Stakes (G3) and was eased by jockey Umberto Rispoli after being outrun early.
"Everything's good with him. I really don't know what happened there," Papaprodromou said. "Umberto got him out and was wide all the way. He said (Pioneering Papa) just didn't want to fire. Maybe he ran back too soon. But it was a short field and there was no other race coming up for him, so we took a shot."
Pioneering Papa is campaigned by Decker Racing. Papaprodromou said, "we're going to regroup and get him ready for Del Mar."
Brandon'smylawyer. A debut winner last summer at Del Mar as a 2-year-old, she finished off the board in the Surfer Girl in her only other start of the season while with Baltas. She did not resurface until May 29 with Papaprodromou, promptly winning her seasonal debut in an allowance going down the hill at Santa Anita.
Next up for the daughter of Astern is a likely start in the $200,000 Great Lady M (G2) going 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt at Los Alamitos on July 4.
"We're kind of pointing towards that right now, but I'll still need to discuss it with the owners," Papaprodromou said. Brandon'smylawyer is campaigned by Bram Jam Stable and Ciaglia Racing.
Balladeer. He was winless in his first four career starts for Baltas, all during the current Santa Anita meet, before switching trainers and being put back on turf. The 3-year-old son of Distorted Humor responded with a sharp win against straight maidens going a mile on the turf on May 29.
Owned by Calvin Nguyen and Joey Tran, Balladeer likely will head next to the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes for 3-year-olds going a mile on turf on opening day of Del Mar, July 22.
source
No comments:
Post a Comment