Gulfstream Park notes: Cairo Prince gets back to work

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Cairo Prince had his first workout since his 5 3/4-length romp in the Holy Bull when going an easy half-mile Saturday in 48.60 seconds over a fast track at the Palm Meadows training center.

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said he was very happy with how Cairo Prince proceeded through the breeze, which came on a bright, brisk morning at a little before 9 a.m. Eastern and with exercise rider Rob Massey aboard.

“He went on his own, real easy,” McLaughlin said. “We have quite a long time before March 29, so this was just a start. We were just looking for a 49[-second] maintenance work. Everything is looking good.”

McLaughlin announced recently that Cairo Prince will race in the March 29 Florida Derby at Gulfstream as his only prep leading up to the 140th Kentucky Derby on May 3 at Churchill Downs.

Cairo Prince, from the first crop of Pioneerof the Nile, is owned by the four-way partnership of Namcook Stables, Paul Braverman, Harvey Clarke, and W. Craig Robertson III. The gray colt has won 3 of 4 starts, the latest being his eye-catching score in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull on Jan. 25 at Gulfstream. His only loss was by a nose to Honor Code in the Remsen at Aqueduct in late November.

Cairo Prince closed last weekend at 13-1 in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, a co-third choice with Top Billing behind only the mutuel field (all others) at 3-2 and Honor Code (12-1).

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

Among the Saturday workers at Gulfstream were No Nay Never, five furlongs, 58.92 seconds in company; Judy the Beauty, five furlongs in 59.16; and Medal Count, a half-mile in 47 seconds.

Major Marvel headed to Barbados

Trainer Mike Maker said Major Marvel, winner of 22 of 53 career starts and nearly $700,000, will run next in the Sandy Lane Gold Cup in Barbados on March 8 and will be ridden by Patrick Husbands, a native of the island nation.

Owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Major Marvel won the Claiming Crown Emerald at Gulfstream two starts back and has won nine of his last 11 starts. The Gold Cup is a 1 1/8-mile turf race.

Meanwhile, the Ramseys and Maker continue to win here at a high percentage. Bernie the Maestro ($5.40) and Longhunter ($3) won back-to-back races Friday, giving Maker 27 wins at the meet, second only to Todd Pletcher (45). The Ramseys led the owner standings through Friday with 28 wins, more than double their closest pursuer.

[Clocker Reports: Get Mike Welsch’s clocker reports from Gulfstream Park and Palm Meadows]