Mike Welsch's top 3-year-olds at Gulfstream for March 24
Top 3-year-old colts and geldings at Gulfstream Park
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
Comment: Remains tops of the locally based 3-year-olds despite disqualification in the Fountain of Youth. All reports coming out of Palm Meadows say he couldn’t be doing any better training up to the Florida Derby.
:: TOP 3-YEAR-OLDS: Aqueduct | Fair Grounds | Oaklawn
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Pedigree: Giant’s Causeway-Rebridled Dreams by Unbridled Song
Last race: Won Tampa Bay Derby
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 98/98
Target race: Blue Grass, April 4, Keeneland
Comment: Moved up in the Pletcher barn pecking order among Derby hopefuls with a huge performance off the bench in the Tampa Bay Derby, looked like a horse who’ll relish even more distance on the gallop out. Has had only one work, an easy half-mile at Palm Beach Downs on Saturday, since his last start.
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Pedigree: Lemon Drop Kid-Stormy B by Cherokee Run
Last race: Finished 2nd, placed 1st in the Fountain of Youth
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 90/90
Target race: Florida Derby, March 28, Gulfstream Park
Comment: Steadily improving 3-year-old beat will try to validate Fountain of Youth decision when he meets Upstart again in Florida Derby. He worked on even terms with Materiality going four furlongs last weekend at Palm Beach Downs.
:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Pedigree: More Than Ready-Chasethewildwind by Forty Niner
Last race: 2nd in Grade 2 Swale
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 103/107
Target race: Wood Memorial, April 4, Aqueduct
Comment: Earned triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure despite getting beat returning in the seven-furlong Swale. He will put all his Derby eggs in one basket when he makes his final Derby prep in the Wood.
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Pedigree: Afleet Alex-Wildwood Flower by Langfuhr
Last race: Won overnight stakes on March 6
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 104/104
Target race: Florida Derby, March 28, Gulfstream Park
Comment: A bit behind the eight-ball experience wise and he is bucking tradition having not debuted until the second week of his 3-year-old season, but he has shown a lot of ability in his two starts and is proven around two turns. He will be coming back a bit quickly off that effort, on only three weeks’ rest.
:: DERBY WATCH: Top 20 from Jay Privman and Mike Watchmaker
3-year-old 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. She was given a good freshening following her undefeated 2-year-old campaign. She has had six works since returning to training here this winter, the latest a bullet four furlongs in 47.95 over the main track at Palm Meadows on St. Patricks Day.
BIRDATTHEWIRE
Trainer: Dale Romans
Pedigree: Summer Bird-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. Turned in an eye-catching five-furlong work punctuated by an awesome gallop-out two weekends ago at Gulfstream, followed by another similar move last Sunday.
TAYLOR S
Trainer: Dale Romans
Pedigree: Medaglia d’Oro-Miss Lacy Sue by Trippi
Last race: Won Any Limit Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 94/94
Target race: Undecided
Comment: Showed her blazing speed winning the Any Limit following unlucky trip in the Forward Gal. She could be a real force in the division if she can ever stretch that speed around two turns.
EKATI’S PHAETON
Trainer: Bill Kaplan
Pedigree: Tale of Ekati-Seventh Vail by Tail of the Cat
Last race: Won Davona Dale, Gulfstream Park
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 88/88
Target race: Gulfstream Oaks, March 28, Gulfstream Park
Comment: Made all the pace to win the Davona Dale, turning back bids from Birdatthewire and Eskenformoney. Although she is unproven around two turns, trainer Bill Kaplan feels she’ll have no trouble getting the added distance.