A handful of potential Florida Derby starters were in action at four different venues in south Florida on Saturday, including Gunnevera, Practical Joke, and Three Rules, the first three finishers two weeks ago in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park.
El Areeb returned to the work tab in Maryland on Friday, and it looks like he'll be returning to New York in three weeks for the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial on April 8 at Aqueduct.
The improving 3-year-old Hollywood Handsome will have his first chance at a starring role April 1 in the $1 million Louisiana Derby.
Mo Town came down the turnpike from Payson Park to breeze here on Thursday morning in preparation for a possible start here April 1 in the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby.
Petrov could be much more effective if he had the chance to relax a little early and let someone else worry about keeping the pace honest, which could very well happen in Saturday's Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park.
And if Rebel Stakes entrant American Anthem does go on to win the Kentucky Derby, he'll join the likes of Iron Liege, Swale, and Super Saver as understudies who stepped up and wore the roses after a stable's leading candidate went down.
Sunland Park officials anticipate drawing 3-year-olds from California, Florida and the Midwest for the New Mexico track's richest Thoroughbred offerings, the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby and $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks. The races will anchor a card of seven stakes on March 26.
Kentucky Derby pedigree analysis: American Anthem
The Grade 1 status of the $1 million Santa Anita Derby coupled with the defection of Mastery from the potential lineup has caused trainer Todd Pletcher to consider the race for a couple of his Kentucky Derby prospects, he said on Wednesday.
Kentucky Derby: Who's hot, who's not for March 17
