Mike Welsch's top 3-year-olds at Gulfstream on Feb. 23
Top 3-year-old colts and geldings at Gulfstream Park
1 - UPSTART
Trainer: Rick Violette Jr.
Pedigree: Flatter-Party Silks by Touch Gold
Last race: Disqualified 1st, placed 2nd Fountain of Youth
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 95/106
Target race: Florida Derby, March 28, Gulfstream or Wood Memorial, April 4, Aqueduct
Comment: Although disqualified from victory via a controversial stewards' decision, he was easily best in the Fountain of Youth, finishing nearly three lengths clear of Itsaknockout. On the strength of that effort and the big Beyer Figure he earned for winning the Holy Bull, he remains top dog in the local 3-year-old division.
:: TOP 3-YEAR-OLDS: Aqueduct | Fair Grounds | Santa Anita | Oaklawn
2 - ITSAKNOCKOUT
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Pedigree: Lemon Drop Kid-Stormy B by Cherokee Run
Last race: Finished, second, placed 1st in the Fountain of Youth
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 90/90
Target race: Florida Derby, March 28, Gulfstream Park
Comment: Lightly raced but steadily improving 3-year-old successfully handled the jump from allowance to Grade 2 company with his victory via disqualification in the Fountain of Youth, all but assuring him a berth in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby.
3 - CARPE DIEM
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Pedigree: Giant’s Causeway-Rebridled Dreams by Unbridled Song
Last race: Finished 2nd in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Nov. 1 at Santa Anita
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 93/93
Target race: Tampa Bay Derby, March , at Tampa Bay Downs
Comment: Training forwardly for his return, and should get better the farther he goes. He takes easier route off the layoff shipping to Tampa, rather than facing the tougher and more seasoned group of 3-year-olds who are pointing for the Florida Derby.
:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays
4 - KHOZAN
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Pedigree: Distorted Humor-Delta Princess by A. P. Indy
Last race: Won allowance race, Feb. 22, at Gulfstream Park
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 90/103
Target race: Florida Derby, March 28, Gulfstream Park
Comment: Royal Delta’s baby brother regressed from a Beyer standpoint, as to be expected, but passed another test when stretching to a mile to trounce an overmatched field of allowance horses in his second start. But he will have only one opportunity to earn enough qualifying points to make the Derby lineup, that coming against much more seasoned opposition in the Florida Derby.
:: DERBY WATCH: Top 20 from Jay Privman and Mike Watchmaker
5 - DAREDEVIL
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Pedigree: More Than Ready-Chasethewildwind by Forty Niner
Last race: Finished 11th in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Nov. 1 at Santa Anita
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 57/107
Target race: Swale, Feb. 28, Gulfstream Park
Comment: Didn’t have much of a trip in the Breeders’ Cup but did handle Upstart with relative ease when pair met in the Champagne. Begins campaign sprinting, and it will be interesting to see where he shows up for his final Derby prep after the Swale.
FILLIES
LADY ELI
Trainer: Chad Brown
Pedigree: Divine Park-Sacre Coeur by Saint Ballado
Last race: Won Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, Oct.31, Santa Anita
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 96/96
Target race: Undecided
Comment: Turf specialist may be the most talented 3-year-old in the country. Was given a good freshening following her undefeated 2-year-old campaign and is still a long way from returning to the races. Whether she tries the dirt at some point this season remains unclear.
BIRDATTHEWIRE
Trainer: Dale Romans
Pedigree: Summer Bired-My Limit by Wagon Limit
Last race: Finished 2nd in Davona Dale at Gulfstream Park
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 88/88
Target race: Gulfstream Oaks, March 28, Gulfstream Park
Comment: Improved from a Beyer standpoint despite coming up a neck short in the Davona Dale and figures to only get better when back to two turns in her next start.
ANGELA RENEE
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Pedigree: Bernardini-Pilfer by Deputy Minister
Last race: Finished 4th, Rachel Alexandra, Fair Grounds
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 85/87
Target race: Undecided
Comment: Grade 1 winner didn’t get the best of trips while looking like a filly perhaps in need of a race when finishing fourth making her 3-year-old debut in the Rachel Alexandra.
ESKENFORMONEY
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Pedigree: Eskendreya-But for Money by Not for Love
Last race: Finished 3rd, Davona Dale, Gulfstream Park
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 87/87
Target race: Gulfstream Oaks, March 28, Gulfstream Park
Comment: Earnedcareer-best Beyer while proving she belonged in graded company with her thir- place finish in the Davona Dale. Another who has already shown she can handle two turns.
EKATI’S PHAETON
Trainer: Bill Kaplan
Pedigree: Tale of Ekati-Seventh Vail, by Tale of the Cat
Last race: Won Davona Dale, Gulfstream Park
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 88/88
Target race: Gulfstream Oak, March 28, Gulfstream Park
Comment: Won the Davona Dale in game fashion over a deep track. She made all the pace and turned back bids from Birdatthewire and Eskenformoney. Unlike that pair, she must still prove her mettle around two turns.