Mary Rampellini's top 3-year-olds at Oaklawn Park on March 9
Top 3-year-old males
Trainer: Ron Moquett
Pedigree: Notional-Zindi, by Vindication
Last race: 1st in Southwest on Feb. 22 at Oaklawn
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 91/91
Target race: Arkansas Derby, April 11, Oaklawn
Comment: He had his first breeze since winning the Southwest on Monday at Oaklawn, going five furlongs in company in 1:04. The move came in the first set after the renovation break, and the track was rated muddy. Moquett said Monday that Far Right remains on schedule for the Arkansas Derby. Moquett is passing the Rebel with the goal of having a fresh horse were Far Right to advance to the Kentucky Derby.
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Pedigree: Malibu Moon-Stormy Bear, by Storm Cat
Last race: 3rd in Southwest on Feb. 22 at Oaklawn
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 90 91
Target race: Louisiana Derby, March 28, Fair Grounds
Comment: He breezed Monday morning at Oaklawn, going five furlongs by himself in 1:04. The track was rated muddy for the move, which came in the third set on a foggy morning. Mr. Z worked without blinkers, and Lukas said an equipment change is being debated for the horse, who in his recent races has worn blinkers.
:: TOP 3-YEAR-OLDS: Aqueduct | Fair Grounds | Gulfstream | Santa Anita
Trainer: Anthony Dutrow
Pedigree: Super Saver-Rateeba, Sky Mesa
Last race: 6th in Champagne on Oct. 4 at Belmont
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 59/85
Target race: Undecided
Comment: Dutrow has said he’s been pleased with how I Spent It has done in his training at Oaklawn. The winner of last year’s Grade 2 Saratoga Special, I Spent It breezed a bullet half-mile in 48 seconds Sunday. The move was the fastest of 120 at the distance. Back on Feb. 22 he went the same distance in 48.40, the fastest of 190 at the distance that morning at Oaklawn.
:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays
Trainer: Ken McPeek
Pedigree: Yes It’s True-Lakenheath, Colonial Affair
Last race: 2nd in Southwest on Feb. 22 at Oaklawn
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 90/90
Target race: Rebel, March 14, Oaklawn
Comment: He continues preparations for the Rebel, and on Sunday breezed five furlongs in 1:01.40 at Oaklawn. The move was the fourth fastest of 68 at the distance. His runner-up finish in the Southwest was his first start since November and first on Lasix. Last year, The Truth Or Else was third in the Grade 1 Champagne.
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Pedigree: Curlin-One for Jim, Distorted Humor
Last race: 4th in Southwest on Feb. 22 at Oaklawn
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 85 / 85
Target race: Rebel, March 14, Oaklawn
Comment: He ran a creditable fourth in the Southwest in what was his first out since finishing third to Carpe Diem in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland in October. He had trained for the Southwest at Fair Grounds, but is remaining at Oaklawn in advance of the Rebel, said Asmussen.
Honorable mention: Hillbilly Royalty, Majestico, Conquest Curlinate, Magic of Believing, Poseidon’s Way, Instant Replay
Top 3-year-old fillies
1. TAKE CHARGE BRANDI
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Pedigree: Giant’s Causeway-Charming, Seeking the Gold
Last race: 1st in Martha Washington on Jan. 31 at Oaklawn
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 77/87
Target race: Rebel, March 14, at Oaklawn
Comment: She put in her final breeze for the Rebel on Monday morning, but was not credited with a public workout because fog precluded the clocker from seeing her until near the wire. Lukas said he had planned to breeze Take Charge Brandi five furlongs in a maintenance move.
:: DERBY WATCH: Top 20 from Jay Privman and Mike Watchmaker
2. SARAH SIS
Trainer: Ingrid Mason
Pedigree: Sharp Humor-Emerald Gal, Gilded Time
Last race: 1st in Honeybee on March 7 at Oaklawn
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 80 / 82
Target race: Possible for Fantasy on April 4 at Oaklawn
Comment: She earned a well-deserved first stakes win in the Honeybee after being edged in recent stakes by champion Take Charge Brandi and the undefeated Promise Me Silver. Sarah Sis won at two turns for the first time in the Honeybee. As for her final time of 1:46.94 for the 1 1/16 miles, it was the quickest of four races on the card at the distance, with the others ranging from 1:47.13 to 1:48.63. Those races were won by males.
3. PANGBURN
Trainer: Ken McPeek
Pedigree: Congrats-It’s True Love, Yes It’s True
Last race: 3rd in Honeybee on March 7 at Oaklawn
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 78/78
Target race: Unknown
Comment: She had a less-than-ideal trip in the Honeybee, her second start since last September. She won her comeback race on Feb. 20, and established her class second in the Grade 2 Pocahontas at Churchill Downs on Sept. 6.
Honorable mention: Promise Me Silver, Oceanwave, Indian Annie, Super Saks, Bootsy’s Girl, Desert Valley