Coming off a three-win day last Saturday, the Kiaran McLaughlin stable hopes to keep the good times rolling this weekend when it sends out Count Fleet Stakes winner Alpha as the probable favorite in the Grade 3, $200,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct.
Though he may no longer be undefeated, Hansen, the recently crowned 2-year-old champion of 2011, remains on the Triple Crown trail with a likely next start coming in the Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 26.
Pletcher’s Kentucky Derby coffers are overfilling with the likes of Algorithms, who knocked off champion 2-year-old Hansen in Sunday’s Grade 2 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park to remain undefeated; El Padrino, who kicked off his 3-year-old season Sunday with a sharp allowance victory; and the late-starting Discreet Dancer, who has been ultra-impressive with two wins this meet.
Ever So Lucky, who made everybody’s Kentucky Derby watch list immediately after his sensational maiden win last fall at Churchill Downs, will launch his 3-year-old campaign in the seven-furlong Hutcheson on Feb. 11, trainer Jonathan Sheppard confirmed Monday.
Eclipse Award winner Hansen may have been the center of attention, but it was Algorithms who stole the show in Sunday’s $400,000 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park, cruising to an easy five-length victory over the reigning 2-year-old champion in the first major local prep on the Kentucky Derby trail.
Add another horse, El Padrino, to trainer Todd Pletcher’s steadily growing list of Kentucky Derby prospects. El Padrino may have actually moved to the top of that list following his extremely impressive two-length victory over Take Charge Indy on a good and sealed racetrack Sunday at Gulfstream Park.
It’s a good thing the 3-year-old colt Chips All In is a better racehorse than he is work horse.
Pee H Dee is one of two promising 3-year-olds the owner-trainer team of Jim McIngvale and trainer Chris Richard have in the hopper for upcoming stakes at Oaklawn Park. Pee H Dee has put himself under consideration for next month’s Grade 3, $250,000 Southwest Stakes following a recent allowance win. Ring It Up, meanwhile, is a horse that could develop into a candidate for the Grade 2, $500,000 Rebel in March.
The depth of trainer Bob Baffert’s 3-year-old division will lead to multiple starters for the Hall of Famer in the $200,000 Robert Lewis Stakes next Saturday at Santa Anita.
Trainer Augustin Bezara said immediately after Reveron upset the Gulfstream Park Derby here on New Years’ Day that the Grade 3 Holy Bull was not in his plans. And the Venezuelan-born horseman was true to his word.
