Dortmund and Prospect Park, the two leading contenders for the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 4, had vital six-furlong workouts in Southern California on Saturday.
One Lucky Dane may have earned a start in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 4 after winning his 3-year-old debut in a first-level optional $80,000 claimer at Santa Anita on Thursday.
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin confirmed Friday that Frosted will make his next start in the Grade 1, $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 4.
Seven other stakes – all but one of them graded – will surround the Grade 1 Florida Derby on a blockbuster 14-race program next Saturday, March 28, at Gulfstream Park.
After a pair of tough-luck losses, it appears as though Firing Line has landed an ideal spot to get his first stakes win – and secure a berth in the Kentucky Derby on May 2 – when he starts as the heavy favorite on Sunday in the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby at Sunland Park.
Lord Nelson, fourth in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on March 7, will skip the $800,000 Sunland Park Derby in New Mexico on Sunday, trainer Bob Baffert said Thursday.
Royal Son broke through with an upset win in last month’s John Battaglia Memorial Stakes on Turfway Park’s synthetic surface, the local prep for the Grade 3 Spiral Stakes this Saturday. The Tiznow colt will get a class test in the days and weeks ahead but does bring a classic-type pedigree to his upcoming challenges.
Royal Son was very impressive winning the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park. I think the 93 Beyer Speed Figure was real and I think it more likely that he would repeat the figure than not in Saturday’s Spiral Stakes.
rainer Steve Asmussen is hoping a change in surface will help bring out the best in Tiznow R J. He will get a shot to prove it on Sunday when he runs in the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Park Derby.
Royal Son was tabbed the 7-2 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s Grade 3, $550,000 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky. – a race from which he will start from the fence in a full field of 12.
