Howard Wolowitz Rising Up the Ranks for D'Angelo

There were smiles all around Jose D'Angelo's barn at Kentucky Downs the morning of Sept. 8, and for good reason. Not only did the lightly-raced Howard Wolowitz nail down a victory in the $1,176,600 Franklin-Simpson Stakes (G1T) Sept. 7, but Kentucky Downs will now pick up the $30,000 check accumulated by the Breeders' Cup pre-entry and entry fees should the 3-year-old colt draw into the World Championships. "(The Breeders' Cup) was the original plan. This race, and if he ran a big race, maybe the Breeders' Cup," D'Angelo said Sunday morning. "I was sure that he was a great horse and he proved it yesterday. Now he's going to make his own plans." Owner Al Gold of Gold Square said they've had high hopes for the son of Munnings since bloodstock agents Sean Summers and Joe Hardoon picked him out for $240,000 at the 2022 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale. After debuting in March at Gulfstream Park in the barn of Brittany Russell, Howard Walowitz moved to D'Angelo's operation near the end of the track's Championship Meet. D'Angelo recognized the horse's talent, but felt like there was more to be unveiled. "I felt like he could do better," D'Angelo said. "I tried the horse on the grass and he moved so different to me." In his first start with D'Angelo June 22, Howard Wolowitz added blinkers and switched to the tapeta, winning a five-furlong maiden event by 7 3/4 lengths. Jumping into stakes company in the Mahony Stakes at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 11, the colt experienced traffic throughout and never got to show his true potential while finishing fourth, beaten 1 1/4 lengths. "Very unlucky trip, he never got in the clear," D'Angelo said of the Mahony. The finish didn't ruin D'Angelo's confidence in the colt, and he was certain the long stretch of Kentucky Downs would be to Howard Wolowitz's liking. The Franklin-Simpson was the first grade 1 contest ever held at the Franklin, Ky., track, the first grade 1 victory for D'Angelo, and, of course, the first grade 1 for Howard Wolowitz. "It's the first time for everybody," D'Angelo joked. "Everybody was a (grade 1) maiden until yesterday." The grade 1 victory capped a monumental week for the trainer, who earned his United States citizenship earlier in the week. Once a leading trainer in Venezuela, D'Angelo moved to the United States in 2019. The following year he trained Jesus' Team to placings in both the Preakness Stakes (G1) and Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) before finishing third in the 2021 Pegasus World Cup (G1). Jesus's Team earned over $1.3 million in D'Angelo's care. "He's a very hard-working man. He's very dedicated, this is what he wanted to do all his life" Gold said of D'Angelo. "I always wish him the best and am very happy he has this horse to train." "All the hard work pays off," D'Angelo said. "Thank you to all my team, they work so hard. (Thank you to) the team, the horses, the owners, for the support. It's not easy." D'Angelo also experienced the difficulty of the sport Saturday when Twirling Queen, who is a perfect 4-for-4 this season and winner of three consecutive stakes, failed to draw in off the also-eligible list for the Music City Stakes (G2T). "I like to make plans with the horses. For two months, these two races were the goal for them," D'Angelo said. "I was very sure that both horses were going to win the race." Following her victory in the July 12 Coronation Cup Stakes at Saratoga, D'Angelo skipped the track's $150,000 Galway Stakes Aug. 10 in favor of the Music City. Instead, he missed both races since the Twirling Candy filly had no graded wins or placings to help qualify for the $2 million race. "It was very unlucky, but I learn," D'Angelo said. "Everything that happens, you have to learn. It's important to have great horses and make plans to make it happen. It is what it is, the horses are good and that's the most important." While Twirling Queen reroutes to a sprint race at either Presque Isle Downs or Keeneland, Howard Wolowitz will likely train up to the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T). "He had a big effort," D'Angelo said. "Most likely, he'll go straight there. He's perfect (Sunday morning), happy, eating candies." The Breeders' Cup will be a tall task for the young colt. He will face older horses for the first time, including Cogburn, who also won Saturday at Kentucky Downs in the Ainsworth Turf Sprint (G2T). Cogburn is owned in part by Clark Brewster, a good friend of Gold's. "Running against older horses will be a challenge," D'Angelo said. "Cogburn is a very nice horse, he has the experience and everything. But (Howard Wolowitz) is developing." Although the Breeders' Cup is the current target, D'Angelo is already dreaming of next summer with his new star. This summer, the trainer took his 2-year-old Gabaldon to Royal Ascot where he finished second by a nose in the Windsor Castle Stakes. Gold and D'Angelo purchased another horse in France with Royal Ascot in mind. Gold said he would be open-minded about the trip with Howard Wolowitz should the colt continue to progress. "I have to go back there and win some races," D'Angelo said. "(Howard Wolowitz) is the kind of horse (to go to Ascot). He fits perfect to us, he has everything."