Spiral could end up being Kentucky Derby prep for Airoforce

Airoforce is the most accomplished among a sizable roster of 3-year-olds being pointed to the Grade 3, $500,000 Spiral Stakes on April 2 at Turfway Park.

Trainer Mark Casse said Friday that owner John Oxley will have to supplement Airoforce after an oversight left the colt off the nominations list for the Spiral, a 1 1/8-mile Polytrack race that offers 50 Kentucky Derby eligibility points to the winner.

Following a nearly 40-length defeat in his last start Feb. 20 in the Risen Star at Fair Grounds, Casse said Airoforce was no longer being considered for the Derby. But Casse said a reversal of form in the Spiral might be enough to have him reconsider.

“I know I said after the Risen Star that the Derby was no longer under consideration, but that’s only because I was stunned at how he ran,” Casse said from Ocala, Fla. “We’ve done different tests on him and can’t find anything wrong.

“I’d be lying if I said we wouldn’t seriously consider the Derby if he won the Spiral. We already know he likes the main track there at Churchill Downs. I’m not saying the Derby is our main focus. We’ll just have to see how he does at Turfway. One step at a time, as they say.”

Airoforce worked five-eighths in 58.80 seconds over the synthetic surface at the Ocala Training Center on Thursday.

Airoforce had been terrific in his four starts prior to the Risen Star, capping his 2-year-old season with a victory in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill.

According to Turfway stakes coordinator Randy Wehrman, other probables for the Spiral, which will be limited to 12 starters, include the Todd Pletcher duo of Azar and Gimlet, along with Diplodocus, Don’t Be So Salty, Kasseopia, Oscar Nominated, Scholar Athlete, Surgical Strike, Taste for Talent, and Zapperini.

◗ If Turfway had a Horse of the Meet, surely it would be Betweenhereandcool. Trained by Jeff Radosevich, the 6-year-old gelding has won all five of his races this winter at the northern Kentucky track and could make one more start before the meet ends April 3.