Hyndford has bags packed for Sunland Derby or Louisiana Derby

Hyndford’s stock rose Saturday while the 3-year-old stood in his stall at trainer Todd Pletcher’s winter quarters, Palm Beach Downs in South Florida. Hyndford in his most recent start Feb. 15 at Tampa Bay Downs finished second, 1 1/2 lengths behind stablemate Magnum Moon, who made short work of Saturday’s Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn.

Granted, Magnum Moon was having more of an afternoon workout than a race when Hyndford finished one place behind him, but Hyndford, who won his maiden two starts ago for a $50,000 tag at Gulfstream, could be a progressive sort. That’s why he’s among the entrants for the Louisiana Derby, although he isn’t certain to start.

Pletcher has been pointing Hyndford for the Sunland Derby this Sunday at Sunland Park, but told Fair Grounds publicity last weekend that Sunland officials informed him that Hyndford, as of last Saturday, would be stuck on the also-eligible list for their race. Hyndford is ready to run, so Pletcher entered him in the Louisiana Derby as a fallback plan. On Tuesday, if Hyndford still is on the outside looking in, he will join Pletcher’s other Louisiana Derby entrant, Noble Indy, on a flight to New Orleans.

◗ Good luck with the featured eighth race Wednesday. The second-level turf-sprint allowance with a $40,000 claiming option is next to impossible to figure. Belgian is listed as the 7-2 favorite and has looked good in two races since being turned back from routes to sprints, but he is up in class with no real edge on several others in a very tricky feature.