Trainer Chad Brown said he has sent Tiz Blessed, who closed at odds of 79-1 on Sunday in the first Kentucky Derby Future wager, to Kentucky to be examined by Dr. Larry Bramlage in an attempt to discover what has been keeping the stakes-winning 3-year-old from a regular training schedule this winter.
One horse who will be conspicuous by his absence when entries are drawn here Wednesday for Saturday’s Grade 2 Fountain of Youth is Dialed In. Trainer Nick Zito said he and owner Bob LaPenta both agreed that passing the race is in the best interest of their colt in light of his huge performance winning the Grade 3 Holy Bull in only his second career start here last month.
Even though trainer Bob Baffert puts The Factor on the same plane as champion Uncle Mo when it comes to raw talent, he and co-owner George Bolton are being realistic about how to proceed with The Factor, desirous of giving him a chance to go two turns, but sensitive to not ruin him on a difficult, perhaps quixotic, quest to make the Kentucky Derby.
The Factor, stamping himself as one of the fastest 3-year-olds in training, rocketed to the front and never looked back when capturing the Grade 2, $150,000 San Vicente Stakes over seven furlongs on Sunday at Santa Anita.
The Factor, making his first start since his sensational maiden win on opening day of Santa Anita’s meet nearly two months ago, used his speed to run away from the competition in Sunday’s Grade 2, $150,000 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita.
For the 13th time in as many years, the mutuel field is the favorite in Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which closed Sunday at 6 p.m. Eastern following a three-day betting window that attracted a substantial increase in handle over recent years. The field, the 24th or “all others” alternative to 23 separately listed interests, closed as the 2-1 favorite in the first of three futures pools offered by Churchill Downs. Uncle Mo, the unbeaten divisional champion, was a close second choice at 7-2, followed by Dialed In (8-1), To Honor and Serve (10-1), Brethren (15-1), and Soldat (18-1). The 137th Derby will be run May 7.
Stretched back out to two turns Saturday in the Grade 2, $300,000 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds, Mucho Macho Man won for the second time in his career, beating Santiva by 1 1/2 lengths.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Howie Tesher is hoping history might repeat itself when he starts Racing Aptitude in Saturday’s Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – It’s time to start sorting out the 3-year-olds at Oaklawn, which has been the prepping ground for the winners of nine Triple Crown races since 2004.
The mutuel field, the 24th or “all others” option, occupied its customary position as the favorite after fairly strong wagering during the first few hours of Pool 1 of the 2011 Kentucky Derby Future Wager. As of 5:30 p.m. Eastern, and with $51,633 in the win pool, the field (No. 24) was the 3-2 choice over Uncle Mo (No. 23) at 2-1.
