LoPresti excited about Turallure's chances in Bernard Baruch

LoPresti excited about Turallure's chances in Bernard

Baruch

Trainer Charles LoPresti, who Thursday morning schooled

reigning Horse of the Year Wise Dan in the gate in advance of Saturday's Grade

2, $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap, had high praise for six-year-old Turallure, who

is being pointed toward the Grade 2, $250,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap at 1 1/16

miles on Saratoga's turf August 31.

The Grade 1-scoring gray turned in a sharp breeze over Saratoga's firm Oklahoma

training turf on Wednesday, covering a half-mile in :47 2/5, tied for

second-fastest of 14 works at the distance.

The son of Wando has not won since the Grade 1 Woodbine

Mile in 2011 but showed signs of his old self July 24 when he finished a

fast-closing second by a head to Seal Cove in a high-level optional claimer at a

mile over the inner turf course.

"He's training as good as Wise Dan or (recent Whitney

runner-up) Successful Dan is," LoPresti said. "I think the Bernard Baruch is a

good race for him."

Turallure, who won the 2011 Bernard Baruch, raced just three

times in 2012, with his best finish being a neck second in the

Maker's 46 Mile at Keeneland. He then failed to hit the board in

his next five starts before coming to life in the tough optional claimer.

"He had a bone bruise, and I think it took him a while to

get on track," LoPresti explained. "I think getting him up here (helped him). He got

up here and got more competitive. He got a little breeze on the turf course over

there (at Oklahoma). I think it all started coming back to him, 'Hey, this is

what I'm here to do.'

"He (hadn't been doing) anything wrong, but he didn't have

that spark. He's showing it now. I think he's going to run big."

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