Breeders’ Cup preview: Vino Rosso duo first championship starters for freshman sire

Vino Rosso, the leading First-Crop sire of Grade 1 horses, will be represented by a pair of starters in this Friday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita Park.

The Wine Steward, a two-time stakes winner and runner-up in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, drew the inside post in the field of 11 2-year-oldsVino Rosso, the leading First-Crop sire of Grade 1 horses, will be represented by a pair of starters in this Friday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) going 1 1/16-miles.

The Wine Steward, who has won three of four races, will be running at his fifth different track in as many starts on Friday. Owned by David Stauda and Paradise Farms Corp., The Wine Steward has earned $370,260 and sold for $340,000 at this year’s OBS March 2-year-olds sale. The bay colt was bred by Sequel Thoroughbreds LLC, Lakland Farm and Mark Toothaker.

Two stalls to the outside of The Wine Steward in post 3 is Wine Me Up, trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert for Mike Pegram, Paul Weitman and Karl Watson. Wine Me Up has two starts to date, including a clear second in last month’s American Pharoah S. (G1) at Santa Anita Park. Bred by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Wine Me Up sold for $300,000 at the OBS Open Sale in April.

Vino Rosso, who won the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita, has produced seven stakes horses from his first crop. A strong finish from either of his two Breeders’ Cup runners would likely propel him to the top of the First-Crop list.

The Juvenile is the eighth race on Friday’s card, with a scheduled post time of 7 pm ET.