T D Dance may be favored in James W. Murphy; Outadore to scratch
The Wednesday morning defection of expected favorite Outadore makes Saturday’s $100,000 James W. Murphy Stakes a more interesting betting race.
“We missed a work,” trainer Wesley Ward said of Outadore. “They didn’t have turf works at Churchill during Derby week so I worked him Sunday. He worked good but came back just a bit tired because it was two weeks from work to work.”
Ward mentioned the $100,000 Paradise Creek at Belmont on May 30 as Outadore’s next start.
With Outadore out, T D Dance might wind up favored in the 1 1/16-mile test for 3-year-old turf performers.
“Our horse is doing well,” said trainer Brad Cox. “I’m looking forward to giving him another opportunity in stakes company. We gave him a shot in February and it didn’t work out as well as we were hoping, but he rebounded nice in his last race.”
T D Dance has a versatile running style.
:: Join DRF Bets and get ready to watch and wager on the Preakness with a $250 first deposit bonus
“I thought there might be a little bit of speed in here,” Cox said. “When I originally looked at the race, I thought he’s going to have to somehow break and work his way over and save as much ground as he can going into the first turn and play off the trip from there.”
The James Murphy will be T D Dance’s third start of the year.
“He’s a good colt. Physically, he’s a nice-looking horse and I do think he’s improved throughout the winter and into the spring,” said Cox.
Michael Trombetta has two slated for the James Murphy. Arzak won his turf and seasonal debut at Tampa Bay Downs, then was a run-off in the early stages under Irad Ortiz in the Palm Beach at Gulfstream.
“I think it was just bad circumstances,” Trombetta said. “Irad asked him to jump out of the gate a little bit and the horse just turned on and there was no getting back. I think if you sit a little still, he’ll be much better to work with.”
Extrasexybigdaddee, stakes-placed on Turfway’s Polytrack, finished fourth in his turf debut last month at Aqueduct.
“He’s training great,” said Trombetta. “I didn’t know how he would do with the grass. Obviously, he likes the synthetic. It looks like he’ll do well over those two surfaces.”
Kasim stretches out for the first time.
“He should be forwardly placed coming off the sprint races,” said trainer Michael Maker. “He’s training very well and should make a good showing provided we get a firm turf course.”
Reassured tries turf for the first time.
“I think he’s really going to like it,” said trainer Brittany Russell. “There’s plenty about him that would be turf, so we’re going to take a shot.”
Reassured makes his first start since finishing fifth in the Howard County last December.
“It wasn’t sort of the optimal trip, but he came out of it with a legit excuse so we freshened him up,” Russell said.
Four-time winner Indian Lake and Charles Chrome, unraced since an impressive allowance win at Indiana Grand on Nov. 9, complete the field.
Sir Barton
Bob Baffert won’t be at Pimlico on Preakness Saturday, but his barn will obviously be well represented. Not only will Medina Spirit and Concert Tour contest the main event, but Hozier looms a strong favorite on the card’s opening race, the $100,000 Sir Barton Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.
Hozier, a $625,000 son of Pioneerof the Nile out of Grade 2 winner Merry Meadow, rallied to finish a non-threatening second behind Concert Tour in the Grade 2 Rebel on March 13. He faltered to last in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby in his subsequent start.
If Hozier stubs his toe, Romp might be the most likely beneficiary. Trained by Shug McGaughey, Romp won his last two starts since being returned to dirt. A son of Kentucky Derby winner Orb, Romp likes to rally from off the pace.
Market Cap makes his seasonal debut in the Sir Barton. Fourth as the favorite in the Howard County Stakes in his final start of 2020, Market Cap adds Lasix for trainer Jeremiah O’Dwyer.
“He kind of lugged in a little bit toward the finish,” O’Dwyer said about the Howard County. “We decided to back off him and let him settle down. He’s a big horse and might have been going through a few growing pains.”
The O’Dwyer barn has been red hot, with six winners from 10 starters between April 23 and May 9.
“He’s currently here at Delaware and breezing away good,” O’Dwyer said of Market Cap. “The Sir Barton has been the plan for a while.”
Dream Big Dreams and Romp are both cross-entered in an allowance race on Friday. Dream Big Dreams’s trainer, Brittany Russell, was still on the fence Wednesday as to her colt’s destination.
“We had thought about the Sir Barton a while back,” Russell said. “Then the allowance came up. I need to talk to the owner and make a decision.”
Dream Big Dreams raced wide over an inside-, speed-favoring track when last of six at Aqueduct on Feb. 8, then rebounded to graduate over a one-turn mile at Laurel.
“He’s very straight forward. Training great,” said Russell.
The King Cheek stretches out for the first time and looms the controlling speed.