Practical Move likely to start in Santa Anita Derby, Yakteen says
Wins by the 3-year-olds Practical Move in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes and Kangaroo Court in an allowance race for California-breds at Santa Anita on Saturday may have been the prologue for even greater accomplishments this spring for trainer Tim Yakteen.
Practical Move ($10.40) had his 3-year-old debut in the $402,000 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles, closing from fourth to win by a convincing 2 1/2 lengths over 5-2 favorite Geaux Rocket Ride.
Yakteen said Practical Move is likely to start in the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on April 8, a key prep for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6.
“I would say that’s a logical spot,” Yakteen said of the Santa Anita Derby. “I’m not going to etch it in stone.”
A few hours before Practical Move’s win for owners Pierre and Leslie Amestoy and Roger Beasley, Yakteen watched Kangaroo Court win his 3-year-old debut in a six-furlong race for statebreds by 1 3/4 lengths over the well-regarded Bus Buzz.
Kangaroo Court was sidelined with a minor injury late last summer, but showed no ill effects of a layoff of more than six months on Saturday. Owned by George Sharp, Kangaroo Court disputed the pace with Bus Buzz before gradually getting away from that well-regarded rival, who finished 8 1/2 lengths clear of third-place finisher Devil Among Us.
Kangaroo Court, bought for $7,500 as a yearling at a sale in Arizona, is scheduled to have his stakes debut in the $200,000 Echo Eddie Stakes for statebreds at 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita on April 8.
“I think he’s a special horse,” Sharp said on Sunday while visiting Yakteen’s stable.
Kangaroo Court was timed in 1:08.75 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 95.
“That was impressive,” Yakteen said. “As a trainer, you always feel like you’re a work short and I’d missed a work.
“He validated he’s a racehorse. The Echo Eddie is perfect timing.”
Yakteen said a successful race in the Echo Eddie could lead to a start for Kangaroo Court in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile, a $500,000 race at Churchill Downs on May 6.
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