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Sole Volante Returns in Gulfstream Allowance

Karakontie gelding last ran ninth in the Feb. 6 Tampa Bay Stakes (G3T).

Sole Volante

Sole Volante

Coady Photography

Sole Volante, who ran in two legs of the 2020 Triple Crown, will return to action June 19 in an allowance optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park.

The graded stakes-winning son of Karakontie  is slated to come off a four-month layoff in Race 10, a mile allowance optional claimer on dirt on a 12-race program highlighted by the $75,000 Martha Washington Stakes, a mile turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

"We gave him a good break and two months on the farm to give him a chance to be a horse," trainer Patrick Biancone said. "We don't expect too much. We just want him to have a good run in his first race back."

Sole Volante distinguished himself as a strong contender on the Road to the Triple Crown in 2020 when he won the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs before finishing second in the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2). Unfortunately, the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), the Preakness Stakes (G1), and the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) were postponed until later in the summer and fall due to COVID-19.

Sole Volante came off a three-month layoff to win an allowance optional claimer, a stakes-quality mile race in which Jesus' Team, who would go on to finish third in the Preakness and second in both the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), finished second. Ten days later, the gelding owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and assistant trainer Andie Biancone finished sixth in the Belmont Stakes. The Biancone trainee went on to finish 11th in the Derby after being squeezed at the start before finishing off the board in a pair of turf stakes.

"He was ready early, but like everybody, everything was delayed because of problems with COVID-19," Biancone said. "He was a little bit over the top when it came the right time. In May, he was just perfect."

Sole Volante began his career with back-to-back victories on turf in a maiden special weight race at Gulfstream Park West and the Pulpit Stakes at Gulfstream Park in the fall of 2019. He finished a promising third in his dirt and 2020 debut in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream prior to his strong performances at Tampa Bay Downs.

Saturday's one-turn mile race attracted a strong field of six older horses, including graded stakes winner Trophy Chaser, who is scheduled to make a long-awaited return from a 13-month layoff. The Juan Carlos Avila-trained son of Twirling Candy  won the 2020 Challenger Stakes (G3) at Tampa. 

Video: Race 10 (AOC) at GP on 6/19/21