Takeshi Frank Set for U.S. Debut, While Fantasioso Pass Finished Last

With identical connections, the son of Gidu will try this Friday at Tampa Bay Downs to improve on the impression left by his stablemate, who offered a very poor first showing in the U.S.

Takeshi Frank winning on debut at San Isidro / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

TAMPA, Florida (Special to Turf Diario)— Things did not go according to plan for Argentine colt Fantasioso Pass in his U.S. debut, as he finished last in Wednesday’s seventh race at Tampa Bay Downs, a $32,000 allowance optional claiming with a purse of $56,500 contested over one mile on the turf.

Returning from a nine-month layoff, the son of Distinctiv Passion faded to be beaten 15 1/2 lengths by Britain’s Kitten (Big Blue Kitten) after breaking on top, tracking in second for much of the way, and emptying out when the real running began in the stretch.

Fantasioso Pass is trained by Víctor Carrasco Jr. for Tagermeen Racing, the same connections who will look to rebound Friday—also at Tampa Bay Downs—with another Argentine import, Takeshi Frank, who is set to make his first appearance in the United States.

Ridden by Venezuelan jockey Samuel Marin and racing with Lasix for the first time in his career, the Gidu colt, bred by Haras Gran Muñeca, will face just five rivals, but will be expected to live up to his established credentials.

Indeed, at the time of his export, the bay was the leading 2-year-old at La Plata, having captured both the Criadores Argentinos del Sangre Pura de Carrera (L) and the Agustín B. Gambier (G3), achievements that followed a winning debut over the San Isidro turf—the same course where he later finished second in the Clásico Congreve (L).

Working steadily if not flashily in the mornings, Takeshi Frank is listed at 8-1 on the morning line, ranked fifth behind outsider Dreaming of Kona (Fast Anna).

The one to beat appears to be Chrome Ghost (Shaman Ghost), who exits a solid victory at Gulfstream Park and owns a runner-up finish in the NYRAbets Sprint Stakes (L) among his credentials.

Also posing a threat is Life Is Precious (World of Trouble), like Chrome Ghost trained by Gerald Bennett. With prior stakes placings on his résumé, he finished second in a similar event at Tampa in late November and returns seeking revenge.