Vino Rosso colt ready for new challenges after maiden score

Next Level, who was already Grade 1-placed at Del Mar, found the winner’s circle for the first time Thanksgiving Day at Fair Grounds with a one-length maiden special weight win at 1 1/16-miles [WATCH RACE].

The 2-year-old colt is the 22^nd winner for Vino Rosso, who leads the First-Crop sire list by stakes horses, graded stakes horses, and Grade 1 horses.

Next Level had spent the majority of this year in southern California, where he was third in the Del Mar Futurity (G1), before shipping to Louisiana. Next Level broke a bit tardy from his inside post, but quickly recovered to take the lead going into the first turn. He set very leisurely fractions through six furlongs, and when challenged in upper stretch, he responded gamely to win by a length in 1:45.76 on a fast track.

Keith Desormeaux trains the winner for Don’t Tell My Wife Stables. Next Level was bred in Kentucky by White Fox Farm. His stakes-placed dam Devious d’Oro is a sister to millionaire Pioneer Spirit and graded winner Devious Intent.