Mineshaft and son dominate recent preps
Mineshaft took a turn in the spotlight on Saturday, as he and his son Dialed In, last year's leading freshman sire, swept the day's three stakes races for Kentucky Derby hopefuls.
Nicole RussoMar 06, 2017
Mineshaft took a turn in the spotlight on Saturday, as he and his son Dialed In, last year's leading freshman sire, swept the day's three stakes races for Kentucky Derby hopefuls.
Jockey James Graham took off riding Saturday afternoon at Fair Grounds to be at Turfway Park on Saturday evening for the mount on It's Your Nickel in the $100,000 John Battaglia Stakes. Suffice to say, it was a good choice. It’s Your Nickel romped to a 6 1/2-length victory in the Battaglia, and in doing so, became the presumptive favorite for the Grade 3, $500,000 Spiral at Turfway on March 25.
Javier Castellano learned his lesson. Four weeks ago, in the Holy Bull, the four-time reigning champion jockey said he was too impatient with Gunnevera and believed he cost the colt his best chance. So, in the Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, Castellano was focused on taking his time before striking.
Trainer Dale Romans said J Boys Echo was a big clown early in his career. On Saturday, it was Romans and his maturing 3-year-old who had the last laugh as J Boys Echo took advantage of a dream trip to record a 3 1/2-length victory in the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes on a chilled late-winter afternoon at Aqueduct.
Gormley, the winner of the Grade 3 Sham Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile Jan. 7, is tentatively scheduled to start in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita next Saturday, trainer John Shirreffs said on Saturday.
Miguel Hernandez never won the Sunland Park Derby as a jockey, but he has a good chance to do so as a trainer with the undefeated Conquest Mo Money.
State of Honor turned in an eye-catching drill under Julien Leparoux on Friday at the Palm Meadows training center in preparation for the Grade 2, $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby next Saturday. He was timed in 47.75 seconds for a half-mile, and then galloped out powerfully.
Girvin won the Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 25 at Fair Grounds, and trainer Al Stall's phone started ringing.
The defection of McCraken from the Tampa Bay Derby has created a vacuum that appears likely to result in a sizable field for the annual marquee event at Tampa Bay Downs next Saturday.
The curious odyssey of Classic Empire took another detour on Friday morning here at the Palm Meadows training center when he refused to break off for a potential workout, was taken off the track by jockey Julien Leparoux, and showed signs of favoring his back upon returning to trainer Mark Casse’s barn.