Mike Smith named to ride Exaulted in Mine That Bird Stakes on Sunday

Exaulted, the runner-up to Nadal in a maiden special weight sprint last month at Santa Anita, has been entered in the $100,000 Mine That Bird Derby on Sunday at Sunland Park. Mike Smith has been named to ride by trainer Peter Eurton.

The Mine That Bird Derby, at a mile and a sixteenth, is the final local prep for next month’s Grade 3, $700,000 Sunland Derby.

Exaulted earned a Beyer Figure of 90 for his debut effort against Nadal, who has since won the Grade 2 San Vicente at Santa Anita.

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There a total of four stakes on the card Sunday, including the $75,000 Island Fashion that could produce starters for the $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks.

No Parole back to work

The undefeated 3-year-old No Parole has had his first work following the $100,000 Premier Night Prince at Delta Downs, breezing a half-mile in 49.80 seconds on a good track Feb. 17 at Fair Grounds. The Prince was Feb. 8.

“It went well, an easy work,” said trainer Tom Amoss.

Amoss said next-race plans for No Parole are still being determined, with his connections still intending to target one of the Kentucky Derby preps. No Parole has won his first three starts by a combined margin of 34 lengths.

◗ There are more than 175 horses consigned to the Texas 2-year-olds in training sale April 3 at Lone Star Park, the Texas Thoroughbred Association announced Wednesday. The breeze show is set for April 1. Last year, 135 horses were entered in the auction, which is annually held in a pavilion in the stable area at Lone Star.