Marcus Hersh's top 3-year-olds at Fair Grounds on Feb. 16
Handicapper Marcus Hersh ranks the top 3-year-old males and fillies pointing to races at Fair Grounds.
Marcus HershFeb 16, 2015
Handicapper Marcus Hersh ranks the top 3-year-old males and fillies pointing to races at Fair Grounds.
Handicapper Brad Free ranks the top 3-year-old males and fillies pointing to races at Santa Anita.
Since 1968, the famed eton blue and brown silks of the Whitney family have been carried just once in the Kentucky Derby, when Birdstone ran eighth in 2004. Gorgeous Bird could revive a century-old tradition by running in the 141st Derby, but a couple of major tests await the gray colt, the first being the Fountain of Youth next Saturday, Feb. 21, at Gulfstream Park.
Without a marquee horse, the 1 1/16-mile, Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 21 at Fair Grounds appears to be shaping up similarly to the Grade 3 Lecomte. As of Friday morning, stakes coordinator Scott Jones had eight 3-year-olds on his list of Risen Star probables, headed by International Star
Ocho Ocho Ocho, unraced since winning the $1 million Delta Jackpot Stakes in Louisiana in November, is on schedule for a comeback March 7 in the $400,000 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita.
With multiple route wins, unbeaten Dortmund is already outrunning his pedigree, which appears slanted toward speed.
Ten 3-year-olds with high hopes and plenty to prove signed up for Northern California’s stop on the road to the Kentucky Derby, Saturday’s $200,000, Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields.
War Story and Mr. Z were among a handful of Southwest Stakes workers Wednesday at Oaklawn, with Lecomte Stakes runner-up War Story going a half-mile in a bullet 47 seconds in his first drill at Oaklawn.
J S Bach will make his stakes debut Monday in the Grade 3, $300,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn following a flashy win at Gulfstream Park.
Lord Nelson, winner of the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes for sprinters on Feb. 1, worked a half-mile in 48 seconds at Santa Anita on Wednesday. Lord Nelson is being prepared for the $400,000 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on March 7.