Gulfstream Park
McCraken training, but will miss Tampa Bay Derby
Tom Keyser McCraken is back in training following this victory in the Sam F. Davis on Feb. 11 at Tampa Bay Downs.
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – The highly regarded McCraken, forced to miss this coming Saturday’s Tampa Bay Derby because of some post-workout puffiness in an ankle, returned to the track to gallop Sunday morning here at the Palm Meadows training center. He missed just a handful of days of training.
“It was just minor,” trainer Ian Wilkes said of the hiccup. “I’m happy with him. It was better to back off now. If you push, you’re screwed. We just had to wait. I did what I thought was right.”
McCraken has won all four of his starts, including the Sam Davis Stakes last month at Tampa. Wilkes said McCraken is going to head straight into the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 8 as a final prep for the Kentucky Derby on May 6.
