Hal auditions for Kentucky Derby prep in Grey Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Hal, who was listed at 99-1 heading into this week’s Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2, will stretch out to 1 1/16 miles in Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Grey Stakes for 2-year-olds at Woodbine.

Is Hal on the early road to the 2023 Derby? Trainer Darwin Banach said he will point him toward a Derby prep from his winter base in Ocala, Fla., if the son of Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Accelerate pans out.

“It’s exciting,” Banach said. “If we can move forward and win this race, we might have a legitimate chance to go to one of the preps and see what we’ve got.”

Hal has won both of his starts from off the pace going seven furlongs on the Tapeta under Justin Stein, including the Display Stakes on Nov. 5 with an 84 Beyer Speed Figure. Banach said the gelding is rateable and should welcome a route of ground.

“Stein should be able to position him wherever he needs to be and go from there,” Banach explained. “He’s not a very big horse, but he’s long and thick. The shoulder on him is just unbelievable.”

:: DRF Black Friday Sale: Save 20% on DRF PPs, Clocker Reports, and other handicapping essentials

Leading Gulfstream Park trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. entered Bluebirds Over in the Grey Stakes and Honor D Lady in Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Mazarine going 1 1/16 miles for 2-year-old fillies.

Bluebirds Over won his Nov. 5 debut traveling a mile and 70 yards over Gulfstream’s Tapeta by eight lengths with a 67 Beyer.

“It was a very nice effort,” Joseph said. “He had trained well on the dirt leading up to the race. Obviously, he’s got turf in him being an English Channel, so Tapeta was the closest thing we could get. He won as visually pleasing as a horse could win. It’s going to be tough going second time out against these horses, but we’re going to give him a try.”

Honor D Lady graduated second time out going 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta at Gulfstream by 7 1/2 lengths with a 78 Beyer.

“The first race we ran her on the dirt because she had trained okay, but we were always trying to get her on the turf or the Tapeta,” Joseph said. “We were following her half-brother [Churchtown], who ran well on the Tapeta and grass at Woodbine.

“That was one of the reasons for trying the Tapeta, to get her around two turns. We think she’s a two-turn filly, where distance is going to be the key with her. We thought going into the race that she had a good chance to win, and she exceeded our expectations. She quickened up nicely, and we considered Woodbine right after that.”

Trainer Mark Casse entered the fillies Forever Dixie, Renegade Rebel, and Ryder Ryder Ryder in both the Grey and Mazarine.

Forever Dixie had a wide trip from off the pace over an inside-biased track when second last time out in the seven-furlong Glorious Song Stakes.

Renegade Rebel and Ryder Ryder Ryder, two expensive purchases with superb breeding, are both exiting a maiden special weight victory.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.