Evans shipping Express Kid to New York for Wood Memorial
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Sunland Park Derby runner-up Express Kid is scheduled to make his next start in the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial on April 4 at Aqueduct, according to his trainer, Justin Evans.
Express Kid set the pace in the $500,000 Sunland Derby and finished second by a nose in the Feb. 15 race, one start after he won the $300,000 Springboard Mile in December at Remington Park. For those efforts, he earned a total of 20 points for the Kentucky Derby.
Express Kid, who had been under consideration for both the Arkansas Derby and Louisiana Derby, will be looking to carry his speed over 1 1/8 miles for the first time in the Wood Memorial. The decision to target the race was made Tuesday with owners Brad and Sharon Kleven, after Express Kid worked a strong five furlongs at Sunland in 1:00.
“Shipping from New Mexico to New York, I know it’s the broad end of the spectrum there, but talking to people, I think it’s a good fit,” Evans said. “When I look at it a little bit, maybe that track is a little bit speed-biased. It always usually sets up like that in the winter time. It seems like speed is king over there. I think the track might suit us a little better.”
Evans is working on lining up a rider for Express Kid.
Express Kid is scheduled to fly to Aqueduct in late March. Evans said his wife, Vanessa, has been working on arrangements.
“My wife is talking to the company back and forth,” he said. “It’s still a little ways out to line up flights, but we’re trying to get into New York on the 25th or so of March so we’ve got time to breeze over the track once. It looks like we might be able to get something March 22nd or 23rd.”
Evans said Express Kid has worked with blinkers off in his last two drills, and he is considering removing blinkers for the Wood Memorial. He said the horse galloped out six furlongs in 1:12 on Tuesday.
“I loved his work this morning with blinkers off,” Evans said. “He’s been spectacular with them off his last two works. He just galloped out in 1:12 and change. He looked fantastic doing it.”
Express Kid is a winner of 3 of 6 starts at distances ranging from 4 1/2 furlongs to a mile.
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