Count Lathum a proving ground for Apalachee Bay

Trainer Phil Hall is looking forward to finding out just how good Apalachee Bay is when the lightly raced 3-year-old runs in the $50,000 Count Lathum Handicap at Northlands Park Saturday. The 1 1/16-mile Count Lathum is the final prep for the Grade 3, $150,000 Canadian Derby. The 1 3/8-mile derby will be held on closing day, Aug. 25.

On paper, Pickford looks like the one to beat in the Count Lathum. However, anyone who saw Apalachee Bay run at Hastings might have a different opinion.

A son of Malibu Moon, Apalachee Bay started his career at Golden Gate Fields with trainer Blaine Wright. In his first start for Hall, he finished fourth at Hastings in a maiden special weight race. He was much the best in the 6 1/2-furlong dash, but he went extremely wide around both turns, and to lose by less than two lengths was quite an achievement. He made no mistakes when he won his next start under wraps by six lengths.

He has the pedigree to go a middle distance, and with his good speed he could be tough to get past if he breaks on top from post 5 with Rigo Sarmiento riding.

Hall was impressed with both of his races at Hastings, and with how he worked five furlongs in 58.60 seconds on July 6.

“He did it easily,” said Hall referring to the bullet work. “This is a good test for him and it should tell us what we’re working with. I don’t think he’s speed crazy or anything like that. He’s just fast.”

Pickford, who has been holding his own while facing tougher horses in Kentucky and Arkansas, should be favored in his first start for trainer Greg Tracy.

If he runs as well as he did on turf in a first-level allowance race at Churchill Downs on May 20, Pickford could be tough to beat. He finished third in the 1 1/8-mile race for trainer James DiVito, and the horse that finished sixth, Real Story, won his next two starts, including the Grade 3 American Derby at Arlington Park on July 7.

The last time Pickford ran on dirt he romped in the slop over next-out Woodbine stakes winner Inge in a $50,000 starter optional-claiming race at Oaklawn Park on April 7.

He is partly owned by Team Valor International.

“He’s here for the Canadian Derby,” said Tracy. “He’s by Hat Trick, so we think he should get the distance. He arrived here two weeks ago and seems to be doing fine.”

Pickford does his best running late and he should have an honest pace to work with. He will break from post 2 with Keishan Balgobin riding.

Shimshine, a three-time stakes winner trained by Elige Bourge, is the leader of the local 3-year-old division, but he hasn’t faced horses like Apalachee Bay and Pickford.