HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Just F Y I had already wrapped up a divisional title before Leslie’s Rose ever made it to the races.
Based on her first two efforts, however, Leslie’s Rose looms a major threat to Just F Y I when the undefeated 2-year-old filly champion of 2023 makes her seasonal debut in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Davona Dale Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The Davona Dale, a one-turn mile, offers its top five finishers qualifying points (50-25-15-10-5) to the May 3 Kentucky Oaks.
By now, trainer Jorge Delgado is used to calling audibles with Super Chow, one of the main contenders in Saturday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Tom Fool Handicap for 4-year-olds and up traveling six furlongs at Aqueduct.
After just missing by a neck in a second-level allowance at Gulfstream on Christmas Eve, Super Chow cross-entered in a similar spot there Jan. 20 as well as Laurel Park’s Fire Plug Stakes that same afternoon.
Delgado chose Laurel, but the weather wouldn’t cooperate. The Fire Plug was postponed, and Delgado shipped to New York for the Grade 3 Toboggan.
It was six years ago that a son of Scat Daddy wowed observers with a powerful debut victory at Santa Anita. Seventeen weeks later, Justify was Thoroughbred racing’s 13th Triple Crown winner.
On Saturday, Just a Touch, a son of Justify who was impressive winning his debut Jan. 27 at Fair Grounds, attempts to join the Triple Crown trail when he starts in the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct. Despite his inexperience, Just a Touch could go favored in a field of 13 3-year-olds trying to accrue points to qualify for the $5 million Kentucky Derby on May 4.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Alder will start for Rebel-winning connections on Friday, when he ships in from Louisiana for the featured ninth race at Oaklawn Park.
The first-level allowance is for 3-year-olds at six furlongs. It has the potential to produce starters for some upcoming stakes in the division – the $200,000 Bachelor at the same distance April 27 or the $200,000 Hot Springs at a mile on March 23.
Alder is trained by Brad Cox and will be ridden by Cristian Torres, the same team that captured last weekend’s Grade 2, $1.25 million Rebel at Oaklawn with Timberlake.
Danny Gargan was fishing Monday morning, he and fellow horsemen John Kimmel and Scott Everett reeling in some good-sized sailfish in the waters off Jupiter, Fla.
This spring, Gargan hopes to go big-game hunting with his 3-year-old Dornoch.
The expedition to the Kentucky Derby begins in earnest Saturday when Dornoch makes his highly anticipated seasonal debut in the Grade 3, $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The Fountain of Youth, at 1 1/16 miles, offers its top five finishers (50-25-15-10-5) qualifying points toward the Derby.
WHO’S HOT
One can’t stop the feeling Timberlake’s reputation is growing. After winning his comeback Feb. 24 at Oaklawn, his first start since finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Timberlake’s Derby Watch odds were lowered to 10-1 by linemaker David Aragona. Timberlake is now sol feeling that Timberlitary second choice behind Sierra Leone, the 8-1 Derby Watch favorite.
Turf and synthetic stakes winner Living Magic and consistent dirt stakes performer Sistina Chapel lead an overflow field for the $150,000 Cincinnati Trophy Friday night at Turfway. The one-mile race on Tapeta awards points toward the Kentucky Oaks on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale, and is the local prep for the $300,000 Bourbonette Oaks (50-25-15-10-5) on March 23.
ARCADIA, Calif. – The season-long parade of winning favorites could hit a snag Friday at Santa Anita, where top contenders in three allowance races face challenges that include distance, surface, and class.
Trainer Craig Lewis acknowledged uncertainty with his pair. Last-out maiden winner Two by Four is sprint to route, dirt to turf in race 1, a California-bred turf mile. Ruff Ride seeks her third straight while up in class from California-bred to open in race 7, going from a mile to 1 1/4 miles.
