Rightandjust eyeing Texas Derby
Rightandjust, who was an allowance winner last Sunday at Lone Star Park, is being pointed to the $300,000 Texas Derby at Lone Star, trainer Shane Wilson said Thursday.
The new 1 1/16-mile race will be part of the Lone Star Million Day program on May 31.
Rightandjust, who invaded from Louisiana Downs, sat off the pace in the allowance and went on to a 3 1/2-length win. He covered the mile in 1:38.35 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 79.
“We saw the Texas Derby was coming up and they had a prep race there,” Wilson said. “We wanted to see how he handled the track – and it was the first time we’d shipped and run him anywhere. He handled it well.”
The start was Rightandjust’s first since running seventh in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on March 20 at Fair Grounds. The race was run Lasix-free as part of new protocols for stakes offering points for the Kentucky Derby.
“He bled in the Louisiana Derby,” Wilson said. “We couldn’t use Lasix in there. We’ve [since] been trying to find a spot we could run where he can use Lasix.”
The use of the diuretic Lasix will be permitted for the Texas Derby.
Rightandjust is a son of Awesome Again and the Tiznow mare Pussyfoot, who is a full sister to Grade 1 winner Morning Line. Rightandjust races for Wayne T. Davis. Earlier this year, he won an allowance race at 1 1/16 miles at Fair Grounds.