Gulfstream Park: General a Rod confirmed for Florida Derby

Trainer Mike Maker had considered several options for General a Rod’s final Kentucky Derby prep but in the end, he opted to avoid the pitfalls of traveling and has decided to keep the Fountain of Youth runner-up at Gulfstream for the Florida Derby. General a Rod won the Gulfstream Park Derby here on New Year’s Day.

General a Rod had his first breeze since the Fountain of Youth on Saturday, cruising an extremely easy half-mile in 51.26 seconds shortly after the first renovation break.

“Just an easy maintenance work this morning,” Maker said. “He’ll have his one real serious work before the Florida Derby next Saturday. Keeping him here for the Florida Derby was really a pretty easy decision. He’s run two good races over the track, he’s trained well over the track, and he doesn’t have to ship. It all adds up to keeping him right here.”

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

Maker could need a new jockey for General a Rod in the Florida Derby, with Javier Castellano, who rode him in the Fountain of Youth, having several other possible options that day, including Honor Code and Constitution.

“Right now, we’re just waiting to see what Javier decides to do,” Maker said.

Maker welcomed a second Kentucky Derby contender to his barn here this week, with Vicar’s in Trouble shipping over from Fair Grounds where he had won the Grade 3 Lecomte and finished third from post 14 in the Grade 2 Risen Star.

“Even though we’ve brought him to Gulfstream, at this point we’re still leaning towards running him in the Louisiana Derby,” said Maker, who indicated Vicar’s in Trouble will have his first local work next Saturday.

Cairo Prince posts easy drill

Cairo Prince, runaway winner of the Grade 2 Holy Bull and likely favorite for the Florida Derby, worked an easy half-mile in 49.60 seconds Saturday at Palm Meadows, galloping out five-eighths in 1:03.80, according to Daily Racing Form clocker Michael Vesce.

Darley Stable purchased a majority interest in Cairo Prince following his win in the Holy Bull.

Just Call Kenny on the mend

Trainer Pat McBurney said Just Call Kenny, who was discovered to have a condylar fracture in his right front foreleg shortly after his impressive victory here in the Hutcheson, could return to training as early as next week.

“We’ll take another set of X-rays on Monday and if everything looks clean, as expected, we’ll be able to start him back in light training,” McBurney said. “He’s been here with us at the track since his surgery and is walking on a daily basis under the shed.”

Just Call Kenny will head to Monmouth Park later this spring, where his first major goal will be the Grade 1 Haskell.