Mastery back at barn after surgery on leg
The top 3-year-old colt Mastery underwent surgery on Monday afternoon at Santa Anita that "went very well," his trainer, Bob Baffert, said early Monday evening.
Jay PrivmanMar 13, 2017
The top 3-year-old colt Mastery underwent surgery on Monday afternoon at Santa Anita that "went very well," his trainer, Bob Baffert, said early Monday evening.
Classic Empire and McCraken are being pointed to the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes on April 8, and both turned in important works over the weekend that had their connections smiling.
Road to the Derby: Tampa Bay Derby analysis
There appears to be an ample amount of speed signed on for the Grade 2, $900,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park, with such 3-year-olds as American Anthem, Malagacy, Royal Mo, and Uncontested all candidates for the 1 1/16-mile race Saturday. That sits really well with trainer Randy Morse, who will send out the promising Tapit colt Silver Dust.
Road to the Derby: San Felipe Stakes analysis
In August 2015, a colt by the continent's leading sire and out of a Grade 1 winner stepped into the auction ring at Fasig-Tipton's Humphrey S. Finney Sales Pavilion in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and brought the hammer down for $1.2 million at the company's boutique Saratoga selected yearling sale.
The joy trainer Bob Baffert felt at watching Mastery win his first start at age 3 on Saturday in the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita turned quickly to disappointment when the 3-year-old colt, one of the top prospects for the Kentucky Derby, was discovered to have a condylar fracture to his left front leg, knocking him off the Derby trail.
In recent weeks, as a number of well-regarded 3-year-olds suffered setbacks on the road to the Kentucky Derby, Mastery has looked better simply by not doing anything. On Saturday at Santa Anita, he will get a chance to show he's as good now as he was at age 2, when the unbeaten colt makes his 3-year-old debut in the Grade 2, $400,000 San Felipe Stakes.
In Saturday's Tampa Bay Derby, I'm going with Wild Shot, who finished fourth in the Sam Davis behind Tapwrit, but after a much tougher trip.
Trainer Todd Pletcher has won three of the last four editions of the Tampa Bay Derby and has an excellent chance of continuing his dominance of the race at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday, when he will send out likely favorite Tapwrit and Sonic Mule in a field of 10 3-year-olds.