Gulfstream Park: No pressure on Wildcat Red going into Florida Derby

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Having already won the Fountain of Youth Stakes and earned enough qualifying points to be virtually assured of making it into the Kentucky Derby with Wildcat Red, Jose Garoffalo has a luxury few other trainers have when it comes to preparing their 3-year-olds for Derby preps such as the $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on March 29.

Wildcat Red turned in his first official workout since the Feb. 22 Fountain of Youth when he breezed an easy three furlongs in 34.61 seconds shortly after the first renovation break Saturday at Gulfstream Park. Wildcat Red galloped out a half-mile in 47.98 under regular exercise rider Paco Mendoza while picking up some unexpected company along the way in trainer Michael Trombetta’s stakes-placed Allwewantforxmas.

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

“He worked well this morning, as we expected,” Garoffalo said. “He got hooked in with another horse, but that was okay. Paco just kept him out four or five paths away from the rail, which makes the final time of his work look even better. Although he only worked three-eighths, we gallop him once around, a mile and one-eighth, leading into his works, so he gets plenty out of it.”

Garoffalo said Wildcat Red will have a similar work next Saturday.

“He’s doing great. We’re looking forward to the big race,” Garoffalo said. “The hardest part is the waiting.”

Wildcat Red was one of three prospective Florida Derby starters to work Saturday at Gulfstream, along with General a Rod, who finished a game second behind Wildcat Red in the Fountain of Youth, and Medal Count. At Palm Meadows, likely Florida Derby favorite Cairo Prince and the undefeated Constitution also got in serious works for the important Kentucky Derby prep.

General a Rod, working solo, went five furlongs in 59.50 while under some pressure to finish under exercise rider Joel Barrientos.

“He worked great,” trainer Mike Maker said. “He gave us exactly what we were looking for. We picked it up a little today, and it was no problem at all.”

Medal Count, working late in the morning over a bit of a chewed-up track under jockey Corey Lanerie, went five furlongs from the half-mile pole into the turn in 59.11 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.05.

At Palm Meadows, Holy Bull Stakes winner Cairo Prince breezed five-eighths in 1:00.80 in company with older stablemate Elnaawi, while Constitution completed the same distance in 1:01.50 for trainer Todd Pletcher.

“We put him in different company today. We didn’t want another 59-and-change breeze from him, and we were very happy,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said about Cairo Prince’s work.

Saez back from leg infection

Jockey Luis Saez is expected to return to the saddle Wednesday after missing four days due to an infection between the knee and hip on his left leg in the vicinity of his hamstring, according to agent Richard Depass.

“He had a bug bite that became infected, and once they took the packing out, it appeared he still had some pus in the area, and the doctors felt it would be best for him to wait until the wound had completely healed rather than risk getting some dirt in it when he rode,” Depass said.

Saez is scheduled to ride Cairo Prince for McLaughlin in the Florida Derby.