Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Morello

Mar 08, 2022 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Blue Lion Thoroughbreds, Craig Taylor, and Diamond T Racing’s Morello picked up 50 points on the 2022 Road to the Kentucky Derby series following his 4 1/2-length triumph in the $300,000 Gotham S. (G3) at Aqueduct on March 5.

The Steve Asmussen trainee completed one-mile on the fast main surface in 1:39.28 with Jose Lezcano in the stirrups. 

Dean’s List, Golden Code, and Life is Great rounded out the top four and earned qualifying points on a 20-10-5 basis, respectively.

Morello improved his lifetime line to 3-3-0-0, $264,000. The impressive son of Classic Empire commenced his career on November 27 at Aqueduct in a six-furlong maiden special weight event and graduated with ease at first asking, drawing clear by 4 1/4 lengths under the wire. His next assignment came in the Jimmy Winkfield S. on February 6, and the chestnut passed his first stakes test with flying colors with a five-length romp.

Bred in Kentucky by Robert B. Tillyer and Dr. Chet Blackey, Morello passed through the auction ring on a trio of occasions. He attracted a final bid of $140,000 as a weanling at the 2019 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, prior to fetching a $200,000 price as a yearling at the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling Sale in Kentucky in 2020. The colt ultimately brought the gavel down at $250,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale.

Morello is the first black-type winner produced from the winning Congrats mare Stop the Wedding, and he hails from the same female line as 2014 Preakness S. (G1) and Wood Memorial S. (G1) third-place finisher Social Inclusion.

From a trio of career engagements, Morello has displayed excellent early speed as well as a push-button turn of foot. The top prospect has yet to compete in a two-turn race to this stage of his development, but he posted a 94 Brisnet Late Pace figure in the Gotham which hints that he will be able to carray his speed and class additional ground going forward.

Morello will be pointed towards a start in the $750,000 Wood Memorial S. (G2) at Aqueduct on April 9.