Union Rags tops Florida Derby work tab
Five of the seven prospective starters for next Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby worked at three different venues on Saturday morning, including division leader Union Rags,
Mike WelschMar 24, 2012
Five of the seven prospective starters for next Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby worked at three different venues on Saturday morning, including division leader Union Rags,
While many of his colleagues were at Palm Meadows in Florida on Friday morning watching 2-year-olds breeze for an upcoming auction, trainer Kelly Breen was at Belmont Park watching a breeze show of his own.
Longview Drive, sixth in a division of the Grade 2 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 20, is an intended starter in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 7, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said.
Sunday’s Grade 3 Sunland Derby isn’t officially labeled a "Win and You’re In" race for the Kentucky Derby, but it might as well be. Half of the field is trained by some of the leading trainers in the country -- Bob Baffert (Castaway and Stirred Up), Todd Pletcher (Ender Knievel), and Steve Asmussen (Daddy Nose Best) know a good spot when they see one.
Reveron, who will be one of the longshots in what is shaping up as a field of seven 3-year-olds, will get a rider switch to Elvis Trujillo for next weekend's Florida Derby.
As the Kentucky Derby preps move to 1 1/8 miles, distance can become a stumbling block for many 3-year-olds. But the trainers of both Castaway and Daddy Nose Best welcome the distance of Sunday’s Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Park Derby.
He said it and nailed it on the nose. “Eight hundred thousand isn’t what it used to be,” insisted Dustin Dix, Sunland Park director of racing operations and the man who put together the $800,000 Sunland Derby, to be run Sunday at Sunland Park.
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A field that might swell to 13, headed by Risen Star stakes runner-up Mark Valeski, is expected for the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby, the featured race on the Sunday, April 1 final program of the Fair Grounds meet.
Countdown to the Crown returns for a seventh season online as one of the most comprehensive handicapper’s scouting reports of the 3-year-old scene. Posted each Friday at DRF.com from Jan. 6 through the Belmont Stakes, Countdown keeps you apprised of the rising stars of the 3-year-old class.
Keeneland’s meet is still two weeks away, but horseplayers can get an early taste of the handicapping challenges presented at Keeneland with a look at Saturday’s Grade 3, $500,000 Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park.