Chunk of Gold, Built weigh next-race options

Connections for the Risen Star’s second- and third-place finishers, Chunk of Gold and Built, haven’t set plans for their horses’ next race, but Ethan West, Chunk of Gold’s trainer, narrowed the possibilities to the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds or the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway, both on March 22.

Chunk of Gold made his first two starts over the Tapeta surface at Turfway and was traveling back to West’s base there Sunday. Chunk of Gold, by Preservationist, overcame a challenging trip to win a maiden sprint first time out and finished strongly to place in his second start in the one-mile Leonatus Stakes.

West said that owner Terry Stephens suggested trying Chunk of Gold on dirt in the Risen Star, so West sent Chunk of Gold to Fair Grounds early in the week and said that the colt, purchased at auction for a mere $2,500, trained with verve on the dirt track.

“The horse handled everything great," West said. "He’s still pretty immature, but he’s also very classy and very professional. I loved how he got across the dirt. It was just a matter of whether he was good enough."

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Chunk of Gold boosted his best Beyer Speed Figure from 79 to a 92 and earned 25 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

Built, nipped for second at the wire, also earned a 92 Beyer, as he did winning the Gun Runner on Dec. 21 by 6 3/4 lengths over none other than Magnitude. Built struggled over a sloppy track when second last month in the Lecomte, and he made a far-turn run at Magnitude in the Risen Star before flattening out.

Built has accumulated 35 Derby qualifying points, the third-highest total as of Sunday, but trainer Wayne Catalano isn’t sure where Built will go from here.

“The other horse [Magnitude] freaked out, and it was hard to get by anyone going long yesterday,” Catalano said. “The horse looked good this morning and scoped clean.”

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