The Puma, the Latin American Hope, Returns to the Spotlight in the Haskell

The colt from Gustavo Delgado's stable will make his highly anticipated return this Saturday at Monmouth Park after missing the Kentucky Derby due to an infection. Winner of the Tampa Bay Derby and runner-up by a mere nose in the Florida Derby, he will seek to prove he belongs among the elite of his generation and secure a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic

Opportunities like the one The Puma will have this Saturday in the NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes (G1-1800m, dirt, US$ 1,000,000) at Monmouth Park are usually anticipated for an entire campaign. In his case, they have been awaited for several months. The colt trained by the Venezuelan conditioner Gustavo Delgado, with the assistance of his son Gustavo Delgado Jr., will finally return to action aiming to prove that his name belongs among the very best three-year-olds in the United States.

The Puma was projected as one of the leading contenders for the Kentucky Derby (G1), but a foot infection detected just twelve hours before the race forced him to scratch from the first leg of the Triple Crown when he was rated among the major players.

That frustration is now in the past. After a patient recovery process and a series of five or six workouts, the son of Essential Quality appears fully prepared to showcase his immense potential once again.

"In his last work, he showed us everything we wanted to see. We believe he is ready," explained Gustavo Delgado Jr., who has been supervising the colt's preparation prior to his father's arrival in Oceanport.

Owned by OGMA Investments, JR Ranch, and High Step Racing, The Puma emerged as a major force on the classic trail in March when he captured the Tampa Bay Derby (G3). He subsequently validated that performance in the Florida Derby (G1), where he fell short by just a nose to Commandment (Into Mischief).

The qualifying points earned in both preps had positioned him sixth on the leaderboard for the Kentucky Derby (G1), a standing that guaranteed him a spot in the starting gate at Churchill Downs. However, the sudden infection upended those plans.

Now, the intervening time may turn out to be a blessing in disguise. "We believe the entire period he had to recover from those taxing qualifying races will benefit him," noted Gustavo Delgado Jr., after The Puma completed a mile of jogging and a mile of galloping on the track at Monmouth Park.

The Haskell represents far more than a simple comeback. The legendary New Jersey fixture is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, offering the winner an automatic, expenses-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), which features a US$ 7,000,000 purse on October 31 at Keeneland.

Anchoring a team with a strong Latino identity, The Puma carries the regional hopes against some of the finest American sophomores. The Delgado team is no stranger to arriving at the Haskell with a top-class contender: in 2023, they finished second with Kentucky Derby (G1) hero Mage (Good Magic), who chased home Geaux Rocket Ride(Candy Ride).

On that occasion, as in most of The Puma's career, the pilot was Javier Castellano. The Venezuelan hall of famer guided the colt from his winning debut in January at Gulfstream Park and has been his regular rider throughout a campaign that boasts one win, two seconds, and one third-place finish from four starts, earning US$ 422,280. However, Javier Castellano will be unable to ride this Saturday. The four-time Eclipse Award winner is recovering from injuries sustained in a recent spill at Saratoga and will remain sidelined for several weeks.

His place in the irons will be taken by Luis Saez, another highly accomplished Latino rider with an outstanding record in the Haskell. The Panamanian jockey has made six appearances in the race, recording two wins, two seconds, and one third. His victories came aboard Maximum Security (New Year's Day) in 2019 and Dornoch (Good Magic) in 2024.

"You never want to see anyone get hurt, and we are deeply sorry for what happened to Javier Castellano. But Luis Saez seems like the perfect choice. He was actively seeking the mount, and those are the kinds of things you want to hear," Gustavo Delgado Jr. remarked.

The jockey change has not dampened the team's confidence, though those surrounding The Puma are keeping their feet firmly on the ground. While securing a victory in a top-flight event is the ultimate goal, the immediate priority is to see a positive effort that will set up the remainder of the season.

"There is no pressure. We just want to get him back to the level he was at before the Kentucky Derby (G1). What happened that week was unfortunate, but the most important thing is simply seeing him compete again," the assistant trainer stated.

Unraced at two, The Puma only launched his career in January, meaning he still has plenty of room for development. As a son of the 2021 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Essential Quality, expectations remain sky-high for a colt who has already demonstrated speed, stamina, and determination.

"We want to see a solid effort, and then we will plan our next move. There are still many major races ahead. The sophomore season is long," added Gustavo Delgado Jr.

The Haskell stands as both a fresh starting point and a shot at redemption. The Puma lost his opportunity in the Kentucky Derby (G1) just when he was primed for the biggest challenge of his life. This Saturday, with Luis Saez in the saddle and the backing of a Venezuelan team that has already reached the pinnacle of the sport, he will finally have the chance to prove that the hype was entirely justified.