Big Pond will ship to Keeneland for Madison

Big Pond, the easy winner of the Spring Fever Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares last month, is scheduled to work at Santa Anita on Saturday in preparation for a start in the Grade 1 Madison Stakes at Keeneland on April 6, trainer Tim Yakteen said on Friday.

Big Pond, who races for owner and breeder George Krikorian, had a workout at Santa Anita last weekend even though she was not given a time, Yakteen said. The unrecorded work was the first for Big Pond since a win by three lengths in the Spring Fever Stakes on Feb. 18.

The $600,000 Madison Stakes for fillies and mares is run at seven furlongs and is one of the top springtime races for the division in the nation.

The Madison would be Big Pond’s second start in a Grade 1 on dirt. She finished second by a nose to Daddysruby in the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Dec. 26.

By Mr. Big, Big Pond has won 3 of 6 starts and earned $273,230. She won the Fleet Treat Stakes for statebred 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs at Del Mar last summer in her second start and stakes debut.

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