East Hall targets Indiana Derby for comeback race

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Atreides might not be the only locally based 3-year-old with designs on the Grade 3 Indiana Derby on Oct. 4. Trainer Bill Kaplan is considering the race for East Hall, who is exiting a troubled sixth-place finish in the Super Derby.

“He’s nominated to Indiana,” Kaplan said. “We’ll wait and see who’s going in the race and how he’s doing over the next couple of weeks before making a final decision.”

East Hall, who finished fourth in the Fountain of Youth and fifth in the Grade 1 Florida Derby here last winter, won the Ohio Derby to earn himself a spot in the Grade 2 Super Derby. But he never was a factor after encountering some traffic issues when attempting to launch his rally on the final bend.

“He got knocked all over the place in Louisiana,” Kaplan said. “He’s a stretch-running horse, and he got sandwiched when trying to make his run and never could get going again after that.”

East Hall was one of three horses Kaplan took to Louisiana Downs on Sept. 6. The other two, 2-year-olds Naval Command and My Point Exactly, both won stakes races going 1 1/16 miles on the turf earlier on the card.

“Naval Command has a ton of talent,” he said. “All she needs to do is learn to relax, which she did a lot better in Louisiana. That race was a big improvement for her. We’re going to try her next in the Alcibiades at Keeneland on Oct. 3.”

My Point Exactly will stay home for his next start, in the $75,000 Armed Forces Stakes on the turf Oct. 4.

Kaplan has another pair of talented 2-year-old fillies in the barn, Ekati’s Phaeton and Moment of Delight. Ekati’s Phaeton has won her only two starts, both on the main track, and will be pointed for the $75,000 My Dear Peggy on the turf here Oct. 4. Moment of Delight, the runner-up in the seven-furlong Susan’s Girl Stakes, will run the same afternoon in the $350,000 My Dear Girl, the final leg of the filly division of the Florida Sire Stakes.

Kaplan also hopes to be presenting himself the winning trophy after Saturday’s $90,000 Musical Romance Stakes. He’ll send out both Holiday Magic and Quinnkat in the seven-furlong dash named for the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint and Eclipse Award winner Kaplan trained for Pinnacle Racing Stables.

“Holiday Magic is coming off a layoff due to an injury but is training great,” Kaplan said. “Quinnkat has been solid all year and comes into the race off a couple of wins. Both of them should love seven furlongs.”

A field of 11 was drawn for the Musical Romance, four of whom, Ol Donyo, Flores Island, Best Behavior, and Kipling’s Joy, are trained by Marty Wolfson. The remainder of the field includes Dreamlicious, Triple Arch, Horsin’ Around, Salamera, and Courtney Ryan.

Atreides goes an easy half-mile

Atreides, working for the first time since his 17 1/2-length victory in the one-mile Monarchos Stakes, went an easy half-mile in 50.74 seconds here Wednesday morning. Atreides was well held throughout, coasting through a 26.58 opening quarter-mile before coming down the stretch in 24.16, then galloped out well, getting five-eighths in 1:03.75 and six furlongs in 1:16.67.

“He was nice and relaxed and galloped out strong ,” Wolfson said. “He doesn’t need fast works.”

Atreides is scheduled to have two more local works prior to heading north for the Indiana Derby.