Gunnevera, Three Rules work for 3-year-old debuts

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A couple of 3-year-olds eyeing the Feb. 4 Holy Bull here, Gunnevera and Three Rules, worked within minutes of one another eight miles apart on Saturday. Gunnevera, the winner of the Grade 2 Saratoga Special and the Grade 3 Delta Jackpot, went five furlongs in 59.85 seconds at Gulfstream Park West, while Three Rules drilled a bullet half-mile in 46.95 at Gulfstream Park.

Gunnevera’s work was his first since his 6 3/4-length triumph in the Delta Jackpot. Although Edgard Zayas was aboard for the work, regular rider Javier Castellano is expected to retain the mount in the Holy Bull. Trainer Antonio Sano said he was pleased with the move and that Gunnevera would have one more work, in two weeks, prior to his 3-year-old debut in the Holy Bull.

Three Rules was in cruise control throughout his work, which was just his second since he suffered his lone setback in six starts in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

“He worked great,” said trainer Jose Pinchin. “We couldn’t be happier with the way he’s doing. He looks good, and he’s fit. The time off after the Breeders’ Cup was good for him.”

Pinchin had originally targeted the seven-furlong Swale on Feb. 4 for Three Rules’s 3-year-old debut but said the Holy Bull is now also in play.

Another 3-year-old prospect who worked extremely well here Saturday was J Boys Echo, the fourth-place finisher in the Delta Jackpot. J Boys Echo got a good schooling in his work, starting behind two stablemates before splitting the pair and drawing away. He breezed five furlongs in 1:00.65 from the half-mile pole with Tammy Fox aboard.

“I think that was the best work he’s had, splitting horses like that before drawing away,” said trainer Dale Romans.

J Boys Echo has become Romans’s top 3-year-old hope following the sudden retirement of Not This Time shortly after the Breeders’ Cup.

“He got into a lot of trouble in the Delta Jackpot,” Romans said. “He was third down the backside, at the quarter pole he was dead last, and he still got up to finish fourth.”

Romans said he’ll look for an allowance race to kick off J Boys Echo’s 3-year-old campaign.

◗ The first major 3-year-old test of the meet, the $100,000 Mucho Macho Man, is on tap Saturday. The race drew 31 nominations, including seven from Todd Pletcher, although Pletcher said he did not intend to start any of them.

◗ Jockey agent Walter Blum Jr. said he has taken over engagements for Emisael Jaramillo. Blum, who also handles apprentice Lane Luzzi, lost 2015 Eclipse Award apprentice champion Tyler Gaffalione at the beginning of the meet. Jaramillo has won 11 races and is tied for sixth in the meet standings heading into Wednesday’s card.