Grande, Statesman likely to hit Kentucky Derby trail
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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Two 3-year-old first-level allowance winners are likely headed to stakes offering Kentucky Derby points for their next starts.
Grande, who won a 1 1/8-mile allowance Thursday at Gulfstream Park, will be considered for the Florida Derby, Wood Memorial, or Blue Grass, owner Mike Repole said Friday. While the Florida Derby makes sense because Grande is 2 for 2 at Gulfstream, Repole said he wants to see how some of his other horses – the maiden Disruptor on Saturday and the maiden winner Uncaged on Sunday – perform over the weekend before making any definitive plans.
Grande, a son of Curlin trained by Todd Pletcher, validated his maiden win going a one-turn mile on Jan. 11 with a successful stretch-out around two turns. He earned an 87 Beyer Speed Figure for Thursday’s win.
Meanwhile, Statesman might be headed to the Wood Memorial on April 5 at Aqueduct after rallying from last to win a first-level allowance going a mile and 40 yards Wednesday at Tampa Bay Downs. It was Statesman’s second straight victory, both at Tampa, since being stretched out around two turns on dirt.
Statesman earned a modest 79 Beyer for Wednesday’s victory, but the son of Constitution ran like a horse who would appreciate more ground.
“I was very impressed with him,” said Shug McGaughey, trainer of Statesman. “The jock just sat and waited on him when he took him outside. He finished like gangbusters. Man, he covered some ground at the end.”
Statesman is owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing, and CJ Stables.
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