Notorious One has not won a race in 658 days, but co-trainer Chris Gangemi believes the seven-year-old can go close to breaking the drought at Belmont on Saturday.
Together with a rain-affected track and two sound runs, Chris Gangemi says Notorious One is poised to return to the winner’s circle in the G3 Strickland Stakes (2000m).
Notorious One, a seven-time winner from 30 starts, ran hard along the fence to finish a close fourth to Bustler when first-up in the Belmont Sprint (1400m).
Two weeks later he ran another competitive race and filled the same placing for fourth behind Startrade in the Hyperion Stakes (1600m).
Notorious One is at $8 in latest Tabtouch markets behind Dom To Shoot $3, Queen Alina $3.80, Startrade $5 and Last Of The Line $5.50.
Gangemi, who trains with his brother Michael, says Notorious One is capable of landing the first major victory of his career.
“I’ve been rapt with his first two runs on what have been pretty firm tracks,” Gangemi said on Tabradio.
“Getting onto a soft track tomorrow (Saturday) should help him and if he can hold that form and possibly improve a little bit he is going to be right in the finish.”
Notorious One has not been successful beyond a mile and at his last try over a middle distance trip he finished down the track to Marocchino in the Ted Van Heemst Stakes (2100m).
“I’m not to worried by that,” Gangemi said.
“As long as he settles, he can get quite keen in his races when they go slow early.
“When he does that it messes up his breathing.
“If he settles well enough early I’m not worried by the 2000m at all.”
The Gangemi’s bought Notorious One as a weanling from Arrowfield Stud.
Immaturity and a couple of setbacks delayed his racing until he was five.
Gangemi says the Animal Kingdom gelding deserves to be rewarded with black-type after being around the mark previously.
He ran seconds in the Listed Farnley Stakes (1400m) and G3 Asian Beau Stakes (1400m) and placed fourth in the G1 Railway Stakes (1600m) two years ago.
“He’s won almost $400,000 and has been a good horse for us,” Gangemi said.
“He’s run second in a couple of big races, but he does deserve to knock off a big one.
“I’m hoping that can be tomorrow, it might be his best chance in a small field on a soft track.
“He’s always going to be a better horse on a soft track because of his feet problems.”
Notorious One has three wins on soft ground and is one from one on heavy.
Belmont Park is currently a Heavy 8 for Saturday’s meeting.
Gangemi rates Queen Alina as the biggest threat to Notorious One in the Strickland Stakes.
Notorious One will start from barrier three, Jordan Turner retains the ride.
