Dazzling Gem opens up world of options

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Dazzling Gem was traveling back to his Oaklawn base Monday after putting his connections in a “fun” position Saturday by running third in the 1 1/8-mile Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds. The horse has a host of options for his next start, trainer Brad Cox said, including the Kentucky Derby after picking up 20 eligibility points for the May 7 classic at Churchill Downs.

“It’s fun to have these decisions in front of you,” said Cox, who trains Dazzling Gem for Arkansas businessman Steve Landers.

Cox said Dazzling Gem’s training over the next few weeks will dictate the path to be taken with the horse, who was making his first start in a stakes Saturday. Cox said Dazzling Gem could go straight to the Kentucky Derby or target another prep, either the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn or the Grade 3, $150,000 Lexington at Keeneland, both April 16. The Arkansas Derby is at 1 1/8 miles, and the Lexington is at 1 1/16 miles. Cox said an additional option is the Grade 3, $250,000 Pat Day Mile on May 7, Derby Day, at Churchill Downs.

“If we were to go in the Arkansas Derby, it’s a mile and an eighth again,” Cox said. “It would be back in three weeks. Or,we could use the Lexington as a stepping-stone to the Derby, maybe a little bit of a shorter deal. It’s a smaller purse, but it might be a good race in order to get him into the Derby. The main thing is we’re just going to watch him over the next week and kind of let him tell us. There’ll be no decision made on what race he’s going to run in for probably two weeks or so.”

Dazzling Gem pressed the pace in second in the Louisiana Derby, dropped back to fourth, then came on again to finish 5 3/4 lengths behind the winner, Gun Runner. Dazzling Gem, a son of Misremembered, entered the race off a pair of wins at Oaklawn, a maiden special weight at a mile in his debut Jan. 18 and a first-level allowance at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 13.

“Big effort,” Cox said of the Louisiana Derby. “Young horse learning, only his third career start, going a mile and an eighth against some good horses. I think it was a step forward considering missing a little training time and shipping down to run. It was a positive race.”

Dazzling Gem had been pointed to the Grade 2, $900,000 Rebel on March 19 at Oaklawn but lost a bit of training time to a foot abscess. He bounced back quickly and put himself in a position to start in the Louisiana Derby. Now, Dazzling Gem has put himself in position for perhaps even more.

“If he continues to move forward, we’ll try to get to the Derby with him,” Cox said.