The field for Saturday’s Grade 2, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby continues to grow as the names Protonico, Bayern, and C J’s Awesome were added to those willing to take on Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome at Parx.
Others expected to enter Monday against California Chrome are Candy Boy, Classic Giacnroll, Noble Moon and Tapiture.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Sweet Reason, a winner of two Grade 1 races around one turn in her last two starts, prepared for her return to two-turn racing Saturday by working seven furlongs in 1:27.28 over the Belmont Park training track.
Sweet Reason worked in company with her 3-year-old male stablemate Noble Moon, who finished about four lengths behind.
CYPRESS, Calif. – Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome posted the final work of his comeback preparation Saturday morning at Los Alamitos – six furlongs in 1:13.80 as he readies for his return next Saturday in the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx.
Victor Espinoza was aboard California Chrome for the 8:15 a.m. work over a track closed to all other horses. According to track clocker Russ Hudak, California Chrome went the opening quarter-mile in 25.40 seconds, a half-mile in 49.60, and five furlongs in 1:01.80.
Trainer Art Sherman was happy with the work.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Stablemates V. E. Day and Wicked Strong, separated by a nose in the Grade 1 Travers three weeks ago, put in stamina-building workouts Saturday morning for their rematch in the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup on Sept. 27 at Belmont Park.
V. E. Day, working by himself at 8 a.m. over the Belmont training track, went seven furlongs in 1:28.20, getting his final three furlongs in 37.39 seconds and galloping out a mile in 1:41.03. V. E. Day, under exercise rider Kelvin Pahal, started the work at the half-mile pole, which is where Pahal pulled him up.
Kylie’s Cutie and Mr. L. S. Shoe, who swept the two $100,000 divisions of the Louisiana Stallion Stakes last weekend at Louisiana Downs, are being pointed for stakes at Delta Downs on Nov. 22, said their trainer, Jim Hodges.
Hodges said Kylie’s Cutie is likely to make her next start in the $150,000 Louisiana Jewel, while Mr. L. S. Shoe is a candidate for the $150,000 Louisiana Legacy. Both races are to be run at a mile and are restricted to 2-year-olds bred in Louisiana.
Rebranded, who in his last two starts has won a pair of small derbies by a combined margin of 25 1/4 lengths, could run next in the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby on Sept. 28 at Remington Park, said his trainer, Justin Evans.
Rebranded won the $50,000 Ruidoso Derby by 12 3/4 lengths in his most recent outing Aug. 31. One start prior, he romped by 12 1/2 lengths in the $40,000 Colorado Derby at Arapahoe Park. The horse is based at Zia Park in New Mexico.
Victory Nor Defeat, a promising son of Unbridled’s Song who finished third in the Grade 2 Super Derby last weekend at Louisiana Downs, is being considered for a start in the Indiana Derby, said his trainer, Ralph Nicks. The Grade 2, $500,000 race will be run at Indiana Grand on Oct. 4.
Victory Nor Defeat invaded from Gulfstream Park for the Super Derby and finished third behind dominant winner Vicar’s in Trouble. For the effort, Victory Nor Defeat earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 86.
Kentucky chief steward Barbara Borden said a stewards’ investigation involving Southern California-based trainer A.C. Avila has been closed after Avila recently paid a $750 fine for falsifying information on his trainer’s application.
Disruption, who finished ninth in the Grade 3 Longacres Mile in his last start, will be shipped to California this coming week and will make his next start at Santa Anita, trainer Monique Snowden said Friday. Snowden and owner Heidi Nelson had hoped to run Disruption in a one-mile allowance race Sunday at Emerald, but an anticipated rematch with the Longacres Mile winner, Stryker Phd, was scuttled when the race failed to fill.
AUBURN, Wash. – If all goes according to trainer Dan Markle’s plan, Old Fashioned Grit will jump from a hot pan into a roaring fire when he makes his second lifetime start in the $65,000 Gottstein Futurity on Sept. 28 at Emerald Downs.
A start in the Gottstein would pit Old Fashioned Grit opposite the undefeated 2-year-old sensation Trackattacker, a 4-for-4 front-runner who has been mentioned as a candidate for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile should he ace his first route test in the 1 1/16-mile Gottstein.
