Gosger threw a couple of big scares into one of the leading 3-year-olds in America in back-to-back Grade 1 stakes this spring and summer. Trainer Brendan Walsh thinks he’s brought an even more polished product to Parx for Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby.
“He’s grown,” Walsh said while the 3-year-old son of Nyquist galloped under Roger Horgan Thursday morning at Parx. “He’s a different horse than the one that went to the Preakness. He’s a bigger horse. Stronger.”
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Gosger, second to Journalism by a half-length in both the Preakness and Haskell Invitational (G1), figures to be a big player in the 1 1/8-mile Pennsylvania Derby. And not just because he’s compiled a record of 5: 2-3-0.
“I don’t weigh them, but I just see it,” Walsh said of Gosger’s filled-out frame he put on display during his gallop and walking back to the barn. “He’s lost that baby look. He’s starting to look more mature. He’ll be a very nice horse next year. Not that he’s not a nice horse already. But next year he’ll really come into himself.”
Gosger tracked the pace early before opening up a five-length lead in midstretch of the Preakness before yielding late under Luis Saez to land in the runner-up spot. He made the lead again in the Haskell before finishing behind Journalism and just ahead of fellow Pennsylvania Derby runner Goal Oriented.
Walsh bypassed the Travers Stakes (G1) in late August at Saratoga in favor of the Pennsylvania Derby, giving the colt two months between starts. He employed similar tactics from the Preakness on May 17 at Pimlico to the Haskell on July 19 at Monmouth Park. Now Walsh hopes it produces Gosger’s first Grade 1 win.
“I hope so. At this stage I’d say he probably deserves to get one,” Walsh said. “He’s run two really, really good races. He’s done nothing wrong since he started. He’s only run what, five times now, and hasn’t been worse than second. This race sets up good for him. Plenty of speed in there. It looks like a similar setup to the Haskell.”
Gosger, who will be ridden again by Saez, drew post nine of 10 for the Pennsylvania Derby and is 4-1 on the morning line.
