Irish War Cry might make 4-year-old debut in Hal's Hope

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Irish War Cry, one of the top 3-year-olds of 2017, continues on a steady work pattern toward his anticipated comeback in the Feb. 24 Hal’s Hope, a one-turn mile at Gulfstream.

“He’s coming along great,” said trainer Graham Motion. “I guess depending on how things go the next few weeks, the Hal’s Hope does seem like a possible target, but he wouldn’t have to miss a beat.”

Last year, Irish War Cry won the Holy Bull and Wood Memorial and finished second in the Belmont Stakes. His last start resulted in an eighth-place finish in the Sept. 23 Pennsylvania Derby behind the eventual divisional champion, West Coast.

Three Rules back to track

Local standout Three Rules returned to training Friday at Gulfstream after missing nearly a week with an illness, according to trainer Jose Pinchin. The 4-year-old colt had been pointed to the Fred W. Hooper Stakes this weekend but was not entered.

“He worked very well [Jan. 20] but had a hell of a temperature the next day,” said Pinchin. “We have no definite race in mind next.”

Three Rules has won six of 12 career starts and $964,160.

Jockey Mitchell ‘doing better’

Jockey Richard Mitchell has been released from a local hospital after breaking his jaw and nose when stepped on by a trailing horse in a Jan. 18 spill at Gulfstream.

“It has been very hard, but he is doing better,” said agent Roger Velez.

Mitchell, along with Juan C. Diaz (fractured ribs) and apprentice Carlos Jimenez (fractured vertebra), was the most seriously injured in four separate spills that occurred here during a span of six racing days (Jan. 15-21).

Soutache back to track soon

Soutache, who won the last two races in the 2017 Florida Sire Stakes series last September before being sidelined, is scheduled to return to Gulfstream soon following a rehab stint at the Ocala, Fla., farm of owner and breeder GoldMark Farm, according to trainer Ralph Nicks.

Soutache went 3 for 4 last year at 2, including wins over fellow Florida-breds in the $200,000 Affirmed and $400,000 In Reality.