Gulfstream Park: Shanghai Bobby on schedule for Holy Bull

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Todd Pletcher reported that Shanghai Bobby is sitting on ready for his first start of the year, scheduled to come in the Grade 3 Holy Bull a week from Saturday, after watching his unbeaten 3-year-old work five furlongs in 1:00.42 at Palm Meadows on Sunday. Shanghai Bobby, popular winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, is the overwhelming favorite to be named juvenile champion at the Eclipse Awards dinner, to be held here Saturday night.

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“I thought this was an excellent move,” Pletcher said Sunday. “The last couple of works we kind of picked it up a bit. Today, we kind of wanted to see where he stood condition-wise, and I thought it was real good.”

Pletcher also sent out another of his leading Kentucky Derby prospects, Overanalyze, to breeze an easy three-eighths in 36.94 on Sunday at Palm Meadows. It was his first work since closing out his 2-year-old campaign with a hard-fought nose decision over Normandy Invasion in Aqueduct’s Grade 2 Remsen.

“This was his first work back,” Pletcher said. “He’s just getting back under way, and I thought he was moving really well. Right now, the plan with him is to go to the Gotham on March 2.”

Pletcher also said the unbeaten Violence, who has not worked since shipping to Palm Meadows following his 1 1/4-length victory in the CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park on Dec. 15, is scheduled to have his first local drill next Sunday. Violence is being pointed to the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on Feb. 23.

Dreaming of Julia, who closed her 2-year-old season finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, also worked an easy three-eighths at Palm Meadows on Sunday. The Grade 1 winner is expected to launch her 3-year-old campaign in the Grade 2 Davona Dale at 1 1/16 miles here.