Saturday becomes a work day for Florida-based Kentucky Derby hopefuls

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. - Three-year-olds were in action Saturday morning at all venues in Florida preparing for upcoming stakes that their connections hope land them in the May 6 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

At Palm Beach Downs, One Liner, undefeated winner of the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes, worked five furlongs in 1:01.91 under jockey John Velazquez. As of Saturday, One Liner remains under consideration for either next Saturday’s Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, or the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 15 at Oaklawn Park.

If he were to run in the Arkansas Derby, One Liner would head there with Todd Pletcher stablemate Malagacy, undefeated winner of the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes, who worked a half-mile in 48.85 seconds with the older stakes winner Tommy Macho, who is pointing to next Saturday’s Grade 1 Carter at Aqueduct.

One Liner worked on the inside of Hy Brasil, an unstarted Malibu Moon 3-year-old colt. The two broke off slowly, going the opening quarter in 26.17 seconds and three-eighths in 38.54. With Velazquez niggling on One Liner slightly turning for home, he finished the move in 23.37 seconds and continued to gallop out well, going six furlongs in 1:15.19, seven furlongs in 1:29.89 and a mile in 1:43.44.

“Last week good was good, this week was really good,” Pletcher said. “I think he certainly worked well enough that everything’s in play. I just got to talk to the connections.”

One Liner, a son of Into Mischief, is owned by Winstar Farm, China Horse Club, SF Racing, and Head of Plains Partner. Head of Plains, headed by Sol Kumin, has recently purchased part-interest in several horses, including American Anthem, Theory, Hedge Fund, Good Samaritan, and Yoshida.

Malagacy, a son of Shackleford owned by Sumaya U.S. Stable, and Tommy Macho came home together in a final quarter of 23.59 seconds.

“That was a typical work for him; he does things pretty easily,” Pletcher said of Malagacy.

Battalion Runner, who scratched from the Florida Derby as expected, galloped at Palm Beach Downs Saturday morning. He will work Sunday for either the Wood or Arkansas Derby.

Eight miles away from Palm Beach Downs at the Palm Meadows training center, dual Grade 1 winner Practical Joke went five furlongs in 1:00.45 in company with last year’s Gotham winner, Shagaf. Practical Joke is scheduled to ship Sunday to Kentucky for next Saturday’s Grade 2, $1 million Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.

“He looked really good,” trainer Chad Brown said.

At Payson Park, Mo Town worked a mile in 1:44 in preparation for the Wood Memorial, according to trainer Tony Dutrow. Dutrow said the horse went in fractional splits close to 13 seconds all the way around.

“I feel that the horse is plenty fast enough,” Dutrow said “I wanted to get some nice stamina in him. I think we’re very good. I think we’re getting the opportunity that we want.”

Mo Town ships to New York on Monday, Dutrow said.

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Finally, over a lightning-fast dirt track at Gulfstream Park, J Boys Echo, winner of the Grade 3 Gotham at Aqueduct on March 4, went five furlongs in 1:00.65 in company. J Boys Echo, trained by Dale Romans, is pointing to the Blue Grass.

In some other notable works Saturday outside of the 3-year-old division:

* Lady Eli, the multiple-Grade 1-winning 5-year-old mare, worked five furlongs in 1:00.84 over the Palm Meadows turf course, getting her final quarter in 23.64 seconds. She galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.33 and seven furlongs in 1:26.81 in preparation for the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland on April 15.

* Highland Sky, who came off a seven-month layoff to win an allowance race at Gulfstream on Feb. 25, worked a fast five furlongs in 58.97 seconds, with a last quarter in 23.53 seconds over the Palm Meadows turf. Highland Sky, trained by Barclay Tagg, is pointing to the Grade 3, $150,000 Fort Marcy at Belmont Park on May 6.

* Connect, winner of last year’s Grade 1 Cigar Mile, worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 at Palm Meadows. He is expected to return in the Grade 3, $200,000 Westchester at Belmont Park on May 6.

- additional reporting by Mike Welsch