Monday at Fair Grounds, nine days after he won the Risen Star Stakes in his first start at age 3, Gun Runner stepped outside the typical Steve Asmussen training pattern, going five furlongs in 1:02.80.
Shagaf and Rally Cry were both 4-5 when they met in a $38,000 first-level allowance race at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 29. While Shagaf won the race by two lengths, trip handicappers figure to be all over Rally Cry when the two meet again in Saturday's Grade 3, $400,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct.
Whether it breeds them or buys them, they win. That's been the scenario this spring for Shadwell Stables, which has two top prospects moving toward the Kentucky Derby in Mohaymen and Shagaf, neither of whom has yet to lose after a combined seven starts.
By his own admission, trainer Todd Pletcher thought his 2-year-old males of last year were going to be slow to develop, and he's had just one runner, Zulu, on Derby Watch since the top 20 first came out last month. That number just tripled.
Shadwell Farm homebred Shagaf may be playing catch-up in terms of experience and timing as he takes his first serious step onto the Triple Crown trail in Saturday's Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct. However, the son of Bernardini has a big advantage in a classic-type pedigree that should serve him well as he progresses.
While the majority of trainers with a potential Kentucky Derby candidate put their horses through workouts on a weekly basis, Servis takes the slow-and-steady approach with Sunny Ridge, who will be among the favorites for Saturday's Grade 3, $400,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct.
Trainer Stanley Gold said Monday that the steadily improving Fellowship came out of his third-place finish in the Fountain of Youth on Saturday in good order, and that if all continues to go well, he will take on Mohaymen for a third time on April 2 in the $1 million Florida Derby.
Songbird and Mor Spirit, two of the best 3-year-olds in California, worked at Santa Anita on Sunday for races in coming weeks.
The Fountain of Youth was a mirror image of the Holy Bull, with Mohaymen winning a 1 1/16-mile race at Gulfstream Park and earning a 95 Beyer Speed Figure.
After I read between the lines and interpreted in my own way what I saw Mohaymen do in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park, I came away very, very impressed.
