Metaboss ready for Spiral

Trainer Jeff Bonde said that El Camino Real Derby winner Metaboss is set to fly to Kentucky on March 17 for his appearance in the Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park on March 21.

“We’ll have all our work done before then,” said Bonde, who has given the colt a pair of easy five-furlong works since his El Camino Real victory on Feb. 14. Metaboss went in 1:02.80 on Feb. 26 and 1:00.80 on March 5.

“Our main focus is long gallops and relaxing him early and then coming home strong,” Bonde said.

Said Bonde of the combination of pressure, excitement and fun dealing with a Kentucky Derby candidate: “That’s what you’re looking for.”

Baze finds a good one

Russell Baze, the world’s winningest rider, had five wins Saturday and two more Sunday to boost his career total to 12,501.

The most impressive win this weekend came Saturday for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer just 20 minutes before Hollendorfer won the Santa Anita Handicap with Shared Belief. Baze guided Kentuckian, a 3-year-old son of Tiznow and the multiple graded stakes winner Forest Moon, to an 11-length victory in his debut.

Kentuckian covered the six furlongs in 1:08.96 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 90. For comparison, Shared Belief won his debut as a 2-year-old by seven lengths with an 84 Beyer.