ARCADIA, Calif. - The $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 6 may include three runners trained by Bob Baffert.
Baffert plans to start Flashback, who was second to Santa Anita Derby hopeful Hear the Ghost in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on March 9.
The last time Dennis Cardoza found himself anywhere near Sunland Park was on Dec. 22, 1984, when the Terrapins of his University of Maryland alma mater were staging the greatest comeback in the history of the Sun Bowl in El Paso. Down 21-zip to Tennessee at the half, the Terps scored 22 unanswered points, gave up a 100-yard touchdown runback, then clawed out another TD in the waning minutes to win the game, 28-27.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Ken McPeek had to rush off and catch a flight to Kentucky on Friday morning, but he left town with a big smile on his face after watching his Florida Derby hopeful, Frac Daddy, work five furlongs in 1:00.24 about an hour earlier at Gulfstream Park.
With jockey Corey Lanerie aboard, Frac Daddy broke off a couple of lengths behind stablemate Kid Twist, posting splits of 24.17 seconds and 36.34 before pulling three lengths clear at the wire and galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.31.
NEW ORLEANS – It’s not surprising that trainer Todd Pletcher will be well represented in the four Grade 2 stakes on Louisiana Derby Day.
Those races – the Louisiana Derby, Fair Grounds Oaks, New Orleans Handicap, and Mervin Muniz Memorial Handicap – have been good to Pletcher. He and the late Bobby Frankel are the only trainers who have won all four.
The eighth season of Countdown to the Crown returns as one of the most comprehensive handicapper’s scouting reports of the 3-year-old scene. Posted each Friday at DRF.com from Jan. 4 through the Belmont Stakes, Countdown keeps you apprised of the rising stars of the 3-year-old class from the maiden ranks through the Grade 1 stakes. You can access daily updates, opinions and interactive features at Countdowntothecrown.com as well.
Straight from the gate
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Maybe it was a result of being matched up with a graded stakes-winning sprinter. Maybe it was the result of his connections wanting to do a little more with him. Or maybe it was simply a result of just how good Vyjack is doing right now.
Whatever it was, Vyjack, the undefeated 3-year-old, turned in a sensational five-furlong workout Friday morning at Aqueduct in preparation for a start in the $1 million Wood Memorial here on April 6.
As the only graded stakes winner in the field, Shakin It Up is the most accomplished horse in the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby on Sunday at Sunland Park, but he will be making his first start around two turns while coming out of a race whose form is debatable.
Where else to look? Perhaps not that far away.
The winner of Sunday’s 1 1/8-mile Sunland Derby will be awarded 50 points in the Kentucky Derby qualifying system, which should be more than enough to ensure a place for him in the Derby starting gate.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Always in a Tiz, who had spent about a month at Oaklawn Park, was held out of last week’s Rebel Stakes because his connections felt he wasn’t quite himself.
Back home in New York, Always in a Tiz showed signs of life Thursday morning when he worked four furlongs in 48.27 seconds over the Belmont Park training track. Working by himself under exercise rider Carl Allsop, Always in a Tiz went his first quarter in 24.11 and his final quarter in 24.16. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.92.
Sunland Derby favorite Shakin It Up was one of six horses who flew into New Mexico on Thursday morning to be part of a Sunday program of seven stakes worth more than $1.4 million. The card is the richest of the meet at Sunland Park.
Shakin It Up was joined on Thursday’s flight by Govenor Charlie, Saint Prado and Mudflats, all of whom are also entered in the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby. The fillies Midnight Lucky and Unusual Way also made the trip, according to a track official, to run in the $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks.
