The saddle towel may have been misspelled but there was nothing else out of place with the performance on Sunday of Iliad, who pressed a hot pace and then pulled clear to win the Grade 2, $200,000 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita, earning him a shot at a key Kentucky Derby prep next month.
McCraken used his come-from-behind style to win the Grade 3, $200,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths over Tapwrit at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday, confirming his status as a top-tier Kentucky Derby prospect and keeping his record perfect with four wins in as many starts.
Trainer Todd Pletcher said he plans to hold off any decisions on where next to run his laundry list of potential Kentucky Derby hopefuls until after Saturday's Sam Davis at Tampa Bay Downs. But one top 3-year-old in the barn whose itinerary has been set is Battalion Runner, who Pletcher said will not run again until the Grade 1 Florida Derby here on April 1.
Trainer Mark Casse reported on Thursday that 2016 2-year-old male champion Classic Empire is doing well after popping an abscess in his foot discovered less than 48 hours after his third-place finish as the heavy favorite in last Saturday’s Grade 2 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Star Empire, who placed in a pair of graded stakes before being eased in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, looks like a deserving favorite for trainer Wesley Ward in Saturday's WEBN Stakes for 3-year-olds at Turfway Park.
McCraken already has shown that he can win a major race at Churchill Downs, and on Saturday, he can prove that he's deserving of another trip to the Louisville track for the Kentucky Derby on May 6.
Despite Three Rules dropping a three-quarter-length decision to Favorable Outcome in the Grade 2 Swale, Stakes at Gulfstream Park last weekend and then watching 2-year-old champion Classic Empire not run to expectations in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull several hours later, trainer Jose Pinchin does not regret his decision.
Maryland racing pulled off a somewhat amazing triple last Saturday when Laurel Park-based El Areeb scored his fourth consecutive victory in the Grade 3 Withers at Aqueduct and Irish War Cry and Tequilita won Grade 2 stakes at Gulfstream Park.
El Areeb roared to his fourth straight victory and his second in two tries going two turns, both of those races at Aqueduct, in the Withers Stakes.
Road to the Derby: Holy Bull Stakes analysis
