Late-developing 3-year-olds join fray

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Apart from the Holy Bull being run last weekend as the first major stakes in the division here this year, the 3-year-olds Battalion Runner and Beasley put in solid performances when finishing one-two in a Friday allowance, and Hedge Fund dominated a maiden race Saturday by four lengths. Both races were at 1 1/16 miles.

Todd Pletcher said he will decide which Kentucky Derby prep race will be next for Battalion Runner, while Mark Hennig said the March 4 Fountain of Youth is probably a go for Beasley, a Shackleford colt named for a small Texas town some 40 miles outside of Houston.

“He’s a bit of a slow learner, but I do like how he’s coming around, and we’re interested to see where he belongs,” said Hennig. “It’s about time to fish or cut bait.”

Hedge Fund, also trained by Pletcher, is the namesake of a full brother to his sire, Super Saver. Hedge Fund, a foal of 2003, was a Phipps family homebred by Maria’s Mon out of the mare Supercharger.

◗ Lacking so much as an open allowance, the modest highlights of a 10-race Thursday card at Gulfstream are a Florida-bred allowance (race 4) and a starter sprint (race 2), with the Rainbow 6 sequence (races 5-10) comprising exclusively claiming races. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.