Although he’s won just one race since August of 2017 – a higher-level optional claimer here last summer – Gunnevera’s bankroll just continues to grow and grow and grow. The honest-as-they-come 5-year-old son of Dialed In added another $1.2 million to the coffers of owner Salomon Del Valle after his third-place finish in last Saturday’s Dubai World Cup, swelling his lifetime earnings to more than $5.5 million.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Roadster was breathtaking in his debut. He had his breath taken away in his next race.

Eight months later, in the Grade 1, $1 million Santa Anita Derby on Saturday, Roadster will make his bid for a berth in the May 4 Kentucky Derby. For a horse with a mere three starts, he’s had an eventful journey to get to this point, including time off for throat surgery to address a malfunctioning wind flap.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Just 11 days after finishing a game second, less than a length behind By My Standards in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, Spinoff was back on the work tab Wednesday morning at Palm Meadows, breezing four furlongs in 48.77 seconds in company with 2018 Louisiana Derby winner Noble Indy.

“It was a last minute deal moving the work up to this morning,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “He’s doing so well, I just felt like it was time to let him stretch his legs a little bit and I thought he breezed well.”

WHO’S HOT

LEXINGTON, Ky. – When Fuel the Bern goes postward as one of the favorites in the last race Friday, trainer Danny Gargan hopes the 5-year-old horse will be the first of many winners this spring in his native Kentucky.

Gargan enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2018 when based primarily in New York, winning 56 races and nearly $2.7 million in purses. He now has a division of 24 horses at Keeneland.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Monomoy Girl will not make her 4-year-old debut in the May 3 La Troienne Stakes at Churchill as had been hoped.

The filly “came off the van colicky” upon returning March 27 to Churchill from her winter base at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, said trainer Brad Cox.

“We pretty much sent her straight away to the clinic.”

Monomoy Girl was treated for dehydration for several days at Rood and Riddle in Lexington. She is resting at WinStar Farm and is expected back at Churchill by the end of April.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Batting over .500 is virtually impossible in baseball and in horse racing, at least in the long term. Still, the occasional hot streak will take a hitter or horse trainer into the stratosphere and get fans’ tongues wagging.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen said on Tuesday he plans to have a division of horses at the Louisiana Downs meet that opens May 4.

Asmussen, who has not been stabled during a meet at the Bossier City track in years, won last year’s Grade 3, $300,000 Super Derby there with Limation.

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HOT SPRINGS, Ark.– Midnight Bisou and Long Range Toddy both remain on pace for upcoming Grade 1 races at Oaklawn Park after emerging from significant workouts in good order, trainer Steve Asmussen said Tuesday.

Midnight Bisou is on deck for the $750,000 Apple Blossom Handicap on April 14 while Long Range Toddy is targeting the $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 13. Each is coming off a Grade 2 win at Oaklawn, with Midnight Bisou winning the Azeri and Long Range Toddy the first division of the Rebel.

The horses worked early Monday, on a fast track at Oaklawn.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The defection of Noble Commander from the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap, to be run Saturday, softens the pace scenario and could put comebacker Prime Attraction loose on the lead in the 1 1/4-mile race.

Noble Commander would have run in the Big Cap when it was originally scheduled on March 9, but after racing was suspended and the Big Cap postponed to April 6, trainer Phil D’Amato shipped him to Keeneland. Noble Commander is nominated to the Grade 3, $200,000 Ben Ali at 1 1/8 miles there on April 13.