David Grening's top 3-year-olds at Aqueduct on March 30
El Kabeir completed his preparations for Saturday’s Grade 1 Wood Memorial by working five furlongs in 1:01.12 by himself at Belmont Park. He will be one of the rare individuals to have competed in all four of Aqueduct’s winter stakes for 3-year-olds. It looks like he will face five rivals in the Wood: Daredevil, Far From Over, Frosted, Tencendur, and Toasting Master.
Top 3-year-old males at Aqueduct
Trainer: John Terranova
Pedigree: Scat Daddy-Great Venue, Unbridled’s Song
Last race: 1st in Gotham on March 7 at Aqueduct
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 89/95
Target race: Wood Memorial Saturday at Aqueduct
COMMENT: So far, he has survived the brutal winter in New York and he will get his first try at 1 1/8 miles in the Wood. See no reason why that distance wouldn’t be within his reach.
:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Pedigree: Blame-Alchemist, A.P. Indy
Last race: 1st in Withers on Feb. 7 at Aqueduct
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 96/96
Target race: Wood Memorial Saturday at Aqueduct
COMMENT: Put in a solid half-mile breeze in 48.98 seconds Saturday at Palm Beach Downs. Needs to a top-three finish in Wood to cement his place in Derby starting gate.
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Pedigree: More Than Ready-Chasethewildwind, Forty Niner
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 103/107
Last race: 2rd in Swale on March 7 at Gulfstream Park
Target race: Wood Memorial Saturday at Aqueduct
COMMENT: Last year’s Grade 1 Champagne winner returned to New York in time to get a half-mile breeze in 48.85 seconds Sunday morning over Belmont training track. Wood will give him opportunity to prove himself around two turns.
:: TOP 3-YEAR OLDS: Oaklawn | Santa Anita
Trainer: Bill Mott
Pedigree: Tiznow-Ender’s Sister, A.P. Indy
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 84/84
Last race: 2nd Gotham at Aqueduct on March 7
Target race: Undecided
COMMENT: Connections appeared to be leaning toward Blue Grass, but as of Monday morning no final decision had yet been made. Seems like a horse that might be better off skipping the Triple Crown and try division’s elite in the summer.
Trainer: George Weaver
Pedigree: Warrior’s Reward-Still a Secret, Hennessy
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 83/89
Last race: 5th Gotham at Aqueduct on March 7
Target race: Wood Memorial Saturday at Aqueduct
COMMENT: Was beaten only 3 3/4 lengths in the Gotham with a bit of a wide trip. Still has issues with his lead changes. Will get a rider change to Jose Ortiz for the Wood.
:: DERBY WATCH: Top 20 from Jay Privman and Mike Watchmaker
3-year-old fillies
1 - CONDO COMMANDO
Trainer: Rudy Rodriguez
Pedigree: Tiz Wonderful-Yearly Report, General Meeting
Last race: 1st in Busher on Feb. 21
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 90/96
Target race: Grade 2 Gazelle Saturday at Aqueduct
COMMENT: Remains on target for the Gazelle after working six furlongs in 1:15.01 on March 24. Should move forward after her victory in the Busher, which was the perfect comeback race for this multiple graded stakes winner.
2 - WONDER GAL
Trainer: Leah Gyarmati
Pedigree: Tiz Wonderful-Passe, Dixie Union
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 81/81
Last race: 3rd in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita
Target race: Grade 2 Gazelle Saturday at Aqueduct
COMMENT: Has had two workouts of six furlongs or farther in 10-day period as Gyarmati tries to get her fit enough to go 1 1/8 miles off the layoff.
3 - NOBLE AND A BEAUTY
Trainer: Rick Violette
Pedigree: Noble Causeway-Overandabeauty, Grand Slam
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 80/80
Last race: 1st Cicada Stakes, March 15 at Aqueduct
Target race: Gazelle Saturday at Aqueduct
COMMENT: Dominant eight-length winner of the Cicada Stakes at six furlongs will get the opportunity to stretch out to 1 1/8 miles in Gazelle. Violette was also considering running her in the Beaumont at seven furlongs and 184 feet at Keeneland on April 12.