O Dionysus targeting Laurel’s Concern Stakes

O Dionysus. Photo by The Racing Biz.

From a Maryland Jockey Club release

Marathon Farms’ multiple stakes-winning 3-year-old O Dionysus, unraced since his runner-up finish in the Federico Tesio April 22 at Laurel Park, is being pointed to a return to competition next month at his home track.

Trainer Gary Capuano said the sophomore son of 2012 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness (G1) runner-up Bodemeister could make his return in the $75,000 Concern Stakes for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs Saturday, July 22 at Laurel.

“He’s doing fine. We just gave him a little bit of a break and backed off his training. He’s starting back again,” Capuano said. “Hopefully if everything goes good we’ll see him next month in the seven-eighths stake at Laurel. We’ll start getting him back and get a few works in him and see how he is.”

O Dionysus has raced four times this year, all at Laurel, winning the one-mile Miracle Wood Feb. 18 and finishing second in the Frank Whiteley Jr., Private Terms and Tesio, the latter two to Twisted Tom, who went on to run sixth in the June 10 Belmont Stakes (G1).

As a 2-year-old O Dionysus had two wins from six starts, capturing the Christopher Elser Memorial in mid-November at Parx. He was also second by a nose in the Dec. 31 Marylander to Irish War Cry, a subsequent multiple Grade 2 winner and runner-up as the favorite in the Belmont.

O Dionysus has remained in Capuano’s barn at Laurel during his hiatus and had one work, a five-furlong breeze in 1:03 May 11, since the Tesio.

“He’s been with me the whole time. We just took it easy with him. He had such a hard campaign in the fall and winter we decided to give him a little break and recharge,” Capuano said. “He looks good. He’ll start breezing in next week or so and we’ll go from there. We’ll see if he’s ready for that race or if we have to wait. If he’s ready he’ll be there.”