Daredevil draws rail for Swale Stakes
Daredevil was assigned post 1 for his much-awaited seasonal debut in the $200,000 Swale Stakes, one of three graded stakes for 3-year-olds Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
Marty McGeeFeb 25, 2015
Daredevil was assigned post 1 for his much-awaited seasonal debut in the $200,000 Swale Stakes, one of three graded stakes for 3-year-olds Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
Gorgeous Bird, never a factor when fifth as the 6-1 fourth choice in the Fountain of Youth Stakes last week, still could get a shot at a Kentucky Derby berth by making his next start in the April 4 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. Frammento, third at 63-1 in the Fountain of Youth, also is likely to run in the Blue Grass.
For The Great War, the road to the Kentucky Derby requires snow tires. Rather than decamp to South Florida for his Derby preps, The Great War was purposely kept in the cold climes of Kentucky, where trainer Wesley Ward keeps 20 of his runners during the winter.
Itsaknockout, still unbeaten after being placed first via disqualification in the Fountain of Youth last Saturday, is the lone newcomer to this week’s Derby Watch top 20.
Imperia, who finished fifth as the favorite Saturday in the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds, will make his next start in the Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park on March 21, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Wednesday from the Palm Meadows training center in Florida.
With less than 10 weeks remaining until the first Saturday in May, much of the focus in the racing world has turned to the 3-year-olds.
American Pharoah and Dortmund are the top morning-line choices behind the mutuel field in Pool 3 of the 2015 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which opens Friday at noon Eastern for a three-day run.
Mike Welsch ranks the top 3-year-old males and fillies pointing to races at Gulfstream.
Handicapper Mary Rampellini ranks the top 3-year-old males and fillies pointing to races at Oaklawn Park.
The Southwest was delayed six days owing to the continuing harsh winter weather that has plagued Oaklawn at this meet, but Oaklawn finally was able to run the race on a cold, rainy afternoon that left the track sloppy and sealed for the Southwest.