Gaming, who finished eighth in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn in his 3-year-old debut, will make his next start in the $500,000 Virginia Derby on March 15 at Colonial Downs, trainer Bob Baffert said.
“It’s a mile and an eighth, one turn, we’ll give him one more crack at it,” said Baffert, who has Irad Ortiz Jr. to ride. “The Oaklawn race was horrendous. He didn’t get anything out of that. He’s come back and worked well.”
Disappointed, but not discouraged, trainer Ian Wilkes said Burnham Square, fourth as the favorite in Saturday’s Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, will continue down the Triple Crown trail and be pointed to the Grade 1, $1.25 million Blue Grass at Keeneland on April 5.
“It’s back home,” Wilkes said “He’s run three times [in Florida]. We’ll get back to Kentucky and just plan on the Blue Grass and see if we can rebound.”
Journalism
Colt by Curlin – Mopotism, by Uncle Mo
Bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corp. ($825,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling purchase by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners)
Journalism’s impressive win in the Grade 2 San Felipe moves him into the favorite’s role on the latest Derby Watch list. The colt is by a sire who has been exceptionally successful in the American classics and who balances out a female family that is lighter on top-level accomplishments.
The connections of impressive maiden winner Baeza hope the Santa Anita Derby has at least six starters, which means the full allotment of Kentucky Derby qualifying points will be awarded. Regardless, trainer John Shirreffs will not fret. He said, “There’s nothing I can do about it.”
Journalism was scheduled to resume training this week at Santa Anita, weather permitting, after a smashing victory March 1 in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes, his first start since Dec. 14, when he won the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity. Journalism won the San Felipe with a 108 Beyer Speed Figure, the highest San Felipe figure since California Chrome earned the same figure in 2014.
Even his understated trainer, Michael McCarthy, was impressed with Journalism.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Mark Glatt is a native of Washington state best known for his success in California, where he is the leading trainer at the current Santa Anita winter-spring meeting.
Glatt began his career in more modest surroundings, winning his first race at tiny Yakima Meadows in Washington in 1994. For his accomplishments in the last 30 years, Glatt will be inducted into the Washington Racing Hall of Fame this summer. The ceremony will be held Aug. 16, the eve of the $125,000 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs.
WHO’S HOT
Journalism rockets to favoritism on the Derby Watch Top 20 following a decisive 108 Beyer Speed Figure comeback victory over heavily favored Barnes in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita. Journalism’s price was lowered to 9-2 by Daily Racing Form linemaker David Aragona. Barnes, who finished more than nine lengths clear of third, drops slightly to 8-1.
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