Bench Points won his first start since September in a six-furlong optional claimer on Friday, closing from last in a field of four to beat Da Ruler, the 3-10 favorite. The victory led trainer Tim Yakteen to mention the $250,000 San Felipe Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on March 12 for Bench Points’s next start.
Who's hot: Todd Pletcher, who won last year’s Kentucky Derby, is the only trainer to land two horses on the inaugural top 20 of this year’s Derby Watch. Heading his duo is the unbeaten Uncle Mo, last year’s Eclipse Award-winning 2-year-old.
Trainer Kelly Breen said his Holy Bull runner-up Sweet Ducky would likely skip the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth here lat Gulfstream Park ater this month to await the Grade 1 Florida Derby on April 3.
Jaycito, winner of the Grade 1 Norfolk Stakes at Hollywood Park last fall, will make his 3-year-old debut in the $150,000 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 20, trainer Bob Baffert said Friday.
After trainer Todd Pletcher finally won his first Derby last year, it is Steve Asmussen who steps to the fore as the trainer who will be the most watched in his quest to win the Derby.
Trainer Todd Pletcher has won three of the last five runnings of the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis, all for WinStar Farm, and will be favored to do so again Saturday when he sends out the undefeated Brethren against nine rivals in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.
John Velazquez rode To Honor and Serve to a victory in last year’s Remsen Stakes, and will be aboard the top Kentucky Derby prospect when he makes his 3-year-old debut later this month in the $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park, trainer Bill Mott said on Thursday. Velazquez is also the regular rider of Uncle Mo, last year’s champion 2-year-old male.
Though Tapizar has not been trained as demandingly for this race as he was for last month's Sham, Tapizar still appears formidable in Saturday's Robert Lewis Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita.
Seven 3-year-olds are entered in Saturday’s 30th running of the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields, but all the attention will be on one horse: Comma to the Top.
J P’s Gusto arrived at his new base of Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., in the early evening hours Wednesday after a full day of travel from Southern California.
