Trainer Todd Pletcher reported Verrazano grabbed a quarter when stumbling leaving the gate after the start of the Tampa Bay Derby, but otherwise all was well with his undefeated and tested 3-year-old sensation.
Hear the Ghost, who successfully stretched out around two turns when winning the Grade 2, $300,000 San Felipe Stakes on Saturday here at Santa Anita, came out of the race in good condition and is likely to make his next start in the Grade 1, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 6.
The margin was only three lengths. As if that matters. Verrazano overcame adversity Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs, where the unbeaten colt affirmed his status as a leading Kentucky Derby contender with a solid, three-length victory in the Grade 2, 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay Derby.
Verrazano solidified his position as the likely favorite for the Kentucky Derby with a convincing 3 ½-length victory over the slow-breaking Java’s War in Saturday’s $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby. Falling Sky, who contested the early pace, finished a tiring and well-beaten third.
Ive Struck a Nerve, the 135-1 winner of the Risen Star Stakes last month at Fair Grounds, suffered an ankle injury in a Saturday morning workout and will miss the Triple Crown series, trainer Keith Desormeaux said.
Titletown Five, a promising 3-year-old for trainer D. Wayne Lukas who finished second in the $60,000 Gazebo in his seasonal debut at Oaklawn on March 2, is possible for the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Park Derby on March 24. Lukas said another option for the horse is the Louisiana Derby on March 30.
Departing, who remained undefeated in three starts with his win in the $50,000 Texas Heritage Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park on March 2, is to run next in the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby, trainer Al Stall Jr. said Friday. The 1 1/8-mile race will be run at Fair Grounds on March 30.
Demonic, who missed a scheduled start in Saturday’s $300,000 San Felipe Stakes because of a bruised foot, worked a half-mile in 48 seconds at Hollywood Park on Friday.
By no means does owner Jim Riccio Sr. have Derby fever. But his 3-year-old The Truth and K G gave him something to think about with his first-level allowance win Thursday at Aqueduct.
Not even the biggest proponents of the occasional handicap race believe that racing’s most important events, such as the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup, should be run at anything except equal weights. So it is increasingly unclear why the key preps for those events continue to be run at unequal weights --especially now that the results of those preps are used to guarantee or deny berths in the main events.
