The imposing presence of the undefeated and recently elected 2-year-old champion Shanghai Bobby failed to scare off the opposition for Saturday’s $400,000 Holy Bull, the first of three major Kentucky Derby preps to be run here this meet.
Early nominations for the three races of the 2013 Triple Crown are due by the close of Saturday.
Clawback, the authoritative winner of Monday’s Jimmy Winkfield Stakes for 3-year-old sprinters at Aqueduct, will be given the opportunity to stretch out in distance for his next start, trainer Rick Violette said Wednesday.
Always in a Tiz, who came charging for third in Monday’s $150,000 Smarty Jones at Oaklawn, was back at his Gulfstream Park base Wednesday with plans for his next start to be determined, said his trainer, Dominick Schettino.
Oxbow and Will Take Charge have put their Hall of Fame trainer, D. Wayne Lukas, front and center on the Kentucky Derby trail after a holiday weekend in which they won 3-year-old preps at Fair Grounds and Oaklawn Park.
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Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas and jockey Jon Court won their second 3-year-old prep in two days on Monday, when Will Take Charge dug in to get past Texas Bling by a neck in the $150,000 Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park. On Saturday at Fair Grounds, the men teamed to win the Grade 3, $200,000 Lecomte with Oxbow.
The major storyline for Super Bowl XLVII is the faceoff between opposing head coaches and brothers John and Jim Harbaugh. At Aqueduct – at least for the last week – it seems like every day is Super Bowl Sunday. Brothers Irad and Jose Ortiz have dominated the recent proceedings at Aqueduct, winning 30 of the 54 races run at the Big A during the six-day period Jan. 16-21. Irad won 17 races, Jose 13.
Frac Daddy may have worked his way into the Grade 3, $400,000 Holy Bull Stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream Park with an effortless work here Monday, in which he went five furlongs in 1:01.31, then was caught by Daily Racing Form going out six furlongs in 1:13.95 and seven furlongs in 1:27.46.
Revolutionary, a solid maiden winner at Aqueduct on Dec. 28, put in an eye-catching workout over the Belmont training track in preparation for a start in the Grade 3, $200,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct on Feb. 2.
Less than 12 hours after being named the champion 2-year-old colt of 2012, undefeated Shanghai Bobby was on the track Sunday morning here at the Palm Meadows training center, turning in his final work for his scheduled 2013 debut next Saturday in the Grade 3, $400,000 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
