Americanus works while in holding pattern

Postponing the Kentucky Derby until Sept. 5 has obviously changed the future plans and schedules of dozens of 3-year-olds stabled around the country.

Take Americanus, for instance.

Originally, trainer Mark Hennig was thinking about running his up-and-coming War Front colt in one of the Kentucky Derby preps, possibly the Grade 1 Florida Derby here last Saturday. But with the Kentucky Derby now five months away, Hennig didn’t feel the need to push Americanus, who won a loaded entry-level allowance race going seven furlongs here Feb. 22.

Americanus breezed a very easy half-mile in 49.20 seconds at Gulfstream Park on Friday, his first work since March 19.

“I just let him go an easy half this morning to maintain where we’re at after skipping a work last week while we try to figure out what we’re going to do next,” Hennig said Friday, adding that Americanus now has plenty of time to earn Kentucky Derby points.

Hennig said that with so many northern outfits forced to remain locally for the time being, he approached racing secretary Dave Bailey regarding the possibility of Gulfstream Park offering 3-year-old and 3-year-old filly stakes.

“I thought that would be a good idea, to help set some of these horses still down here on their paths moving forward,” Hennig said. “I think if timed right, they might even get Churchill Downs to put some Derby qualifying points on it. But I didn’t get any commitment one way or another.”

Hennig also is playing a waiting game with his top 3-year-old filly Maedean, who is coming off a sixth-place finish in Aqueduct’s Busher Invitational on March 7. Maedaen won the Tempted and was second in the Grade 2 Demoiselle at 2.

“She’ll work tomorrow, and like Americanus just stretch her legs a little to keep her happy,” Hennig said. “I have no real excuse for her in the Busher other than she seemed to be horsing, which can happen sometimes when you put a filly on a plane with a bunch of colts. It’s the only thing I can put my finger on, because nothing else showed up.”

Hennig, who has 28 horses still stabled at Gulfstream Park, believes postponing the Derby also could be a big plus for another of his top 3-year-old prospects, Sonneman, who launches his 2020 campaign in a first-level allowance race going seven furlongs Saturday. Sonneman has not started since upsetting the odds-on Cost Basis in a one-mile maiden special weight event on Oct. 5 at Belmont Park.

“He’s the type of horse who likely benefitted from this whole ordeal,” Hennig said. “He had a little issue that needed some time after his maiden win, but he’s doing well, and I’m really looking forward to running him tomorrow.”