With top Kentucky Derby contenders like Shared Belief, Top Billing and New Year’s Day out of the race, this seems like an unusually rough year for top 3-year-olds. But this rate of attrition hasn’t happened since, well, a year ago.
Bond Holder, the winner of the Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes at Santa Anita last September, is being treated at a veterinary clinic in Florida for laminitis.
Social Inclusion, who was a runaway winner of a Gulfstream Park allowance race last week, and Ride On Curlin, a close third in the Rebel Stakes, are the two newcomers to this week’s Derby Watch top 20.
Nick Zito is looking at several options for recent acquisition Spot, including the March 29 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.
Two of the leading local hopes for the $1 million Louisiana Derby on March 29 had major workouts for the race Monday, and both Albano and Gold Hawk went fast.
After further review, Wayne Catalano will be running both Solitary Ranger and Poker Player on Saturday in the Grade 3, $550,000 Spiral Stakes, the annual showcase race at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.
The problematic foot of Shared Belief is “almost to that perfect point,” and he could finally begin working soon, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said Tuesday on a national teleconference.
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, involved in a private purchase of Shared Belief after the horse won his maiden in his debut, is rightfully testy about the constant questions about the health of his Eclipse Award winner.
Despite offering a $1 million purse and 170 Kentucky Derby qualifying points and being one of the most prestigious of all the Kentucky Derby preps, the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 29 seems to be lacking interest among horsemen.
On a rainy Saturday afternoon in Hot Springs, Ark., a veritable rodeo took place during the stretch run of the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park. After the wet dust settled, the lightly raced Hoppertunity gave Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert his fourth Rebel win in five years.
