David Grening's top 3-year-olds in New York on March 16

Rain and slop replaced cold and snow as training obstacles for 3-year-olds based in New York as they begin preparations for the Wood Memorial. But horses were just getting back to their routine after a few off days following the Gotham anyway.

WONDER GAL, third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, snuck her way into the entries, as she will run Friday in a New York-bred first-level allowance sprint as a prep for the Gazelle.

Top 3-year-old colts and geldings in New York

1 – EL KABEIR
Trainer: John Terranova
Pedigree: Scat Daddy-Great Venue, by Unbridled’s Song
Last race: 1st in Gotham on March 7 at Aqueduct
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 89/95
Target race: Wood Memorial, April 4 at Aqueduct
COMMENT: Detractors of his will point to a slow time, a modest field, and a low Beyer Speed Figure, but the way he took dirt, made an inside move, and rallied from well back behind a strong pace in the Gotham bodes well for this colt who had most of his prior success on or near the lead. The Wood should help answer any distance questions.

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2 – FAR FROM OVER
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Pedigree: Blame-Alchemist, by A.P. Indy
Last race: 1st in Withers on Feb. 7 at Aqueduct
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 96/96
Target race: Wood Memorial, April 4 at Aqueduct
COMMENT: He worked five furlongs in 1:01.03 Saturday morning at Palm Beach Downs as he is now on a regular training schedule after missing a work two weeks ago due to weather. Pletcher said last week that given the weather in New York leading up to and including Gotham Day, he is content with his decision to skip that race.

3 – CLASSY CLASS
Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin
Pedigree: Discreetly Mine-Collegiate, by Saarland
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 84/91
Last race: 3rd in Gotham on March 7 at Aqueduct
Target race: Wood Memorial, April 4 at Aqueduct
COMMENT: He was farther back than his connections had planned after breaking slowly, and ran into a little traffic upper stretch when third in the Gotham. It is a little disconcerting with how many paths he drifted out in the stretch, perhaps an indication that more distance may be an issue.

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4 – TIZ SHEA D
Trainer: Bill Mott
Pedigree: Tiznow-Ender’s Sister, by A.P. Indy
Last race: 2nd Gotham on March 7 at Aqueduct
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 84/84
Target race: Wood Memorial, April 4 at Aqueduct
COMMENT: He won a 5 1/2-furlong maiden race at Parx with an outside closing trip, then, in his first try around two turns and jumping into a stakes, he comes rallying along the rail to get second. Promising future for a colt with a pedigree to suggest he wants farther.

5 – TENCENDUR
Trainer: George Weaver
Pedigree: Warrior’s Reward-Still a Secret, by Hennessy
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 83/89
Target race: Wood Memorial
COMMENT: He was beaten only 3 3/4 lengths in the Gotham with a bit of a wide trip. He still has issues with his lead changes.

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Top 3-year-old fillies in New York

1 – CONDO COMMANDO
Trainer: Rudy Rodriguez
Pedigree: Tiz Wonderful-Yearly Report, by General Meeting
Last race: 1st in Busher on Feb. 21 at Aqueduct
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 90/96
Target race: Gazelle, April 4 at Aqueduct
COMMENT: She may be the one horse on either list whose work schedule was hampered last week by weather as she still shows just the one slow workout since her last race. She probably picks up the pace this week with dry weather in the forecast.

2 – WONDER GAL
Trainer: Leah Gyarmati
Pedigree: Tiz Wonderful-Passe, by Dixie Union
Last race: 3rd in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 81/81
Target race: New York-bred allowance, Friday at Aqueduct
COMMENT: She will use a six-furlong New York-bred allowance Friday to get to the Gazelle. She has only four works since resuming training, so her connections hope this serves as a way to get her fit for the Gazelle.

3 – ALLITERATION
Trainer: Chad Brown
Pedigree: Congrats-Royal Card, by Chapel Royal
Last race: 1st in maiden race on Feb. 6 at Aqueduct
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 74/74
Target race: Caesar’s Wish, Saturday at Laurel
COMMENT: After winning a slow maiden race here five weeks ago, she is expected to take on winners for the first time in the Caesar’s Wish, a race postponed by one week.