ARCADIA, Calif. – Add the name War Academy to the Bob Baffert 3-year-old arsenal.

Making his first start around two turns in the third start of his career, War Academy ran down stablemate Manando to win a first-level allowance Friday at Santa Anita and keep his Kentucky Derby hopes alive.

Mike Smith rode War Academy ($3.80) to the 3 1/2-length victory in 1:43.42, after which Baffert said the son of Giant’s Causeway will jump into the deep end.

“I’m going to run him in a big prep,” Baffert said. “It’ll be 100 points, wherever it is.”

Channel Isle and Red Wings are both being pointed to stakes at Turfway on March 23, trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Friday. Channel Isle, an allowance winner at Oaklawn who was fourth in last month’s Grade 3, $300,000 Southwest, had been pointing to the Louisiana Derby, but Lukas said he will run instead in the Grade 3, $550,000 Spiral.

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Cyber Secret, who has taken his game to a new level over the past several months, is being pointed to the Grade 2, $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap, trainer Lynn Whiting said Friday. Cyber Secret is unbeaten at he current meet, picking off his third win of the season in last weekend’s Grade 3, $150,000 Razorback Handicap.

“He’s pumped up,” Whiting said.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Bruce Levine was poised to have a busy weekend at Aqueduct with 11 runners entered over two days, including five in four of Sunday’s nine races.

Sunday, Levine looks live in a pair of New York-bred allowance races – one for 3-year-old colts and one for 3-year-old fillies – that serve as the co-features on the program. Sunday was scheduled to be the last day of racing on the inner track, but weather concerns prompted New York Racing Association officials to keep it open one more week.

On Down the Road will have to overcome a 2 1/2-month layoff to keep his win streak alive Sunday when he runs in the $85,000 New Mexico State University Handicap at Sunland Park. He will be seeking his fourth straight win in a streak that began in September.

The New Mexico State University is a mile and 70-yard race restricted to 4-year-olds and up bred in New Mexico. A field of 10 will go, including Nuggets Please, who in December won the $85,000 Johnie L. Jamison at Sunland.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The wet-weather comeback by unbeaten stakes winner Ismene was a debacle. Fortunately, she had a convenient alibi – footing.

Ismene slipped and slid on the wet-fast track, her legs cross-fired, and she surrendered early at odds-on. Adding injury to insult, Ismene came out of the fifth-place finish with cuts and scrapes up and down the inside of her right hind leg.

“She did not go to the track for two weeks,” trainer Bill Spawr said.

NEW ORLEANS - Grade 3 Mineshaft winner Mark Valeski, being prepared by trainer Larry Jones for the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap on March 30, worked a half-mile Wednesday in 47.20 seconds.

"We let him stretch his legs a little bit," Jones said. "We'll work him again Tuesday and the following Monday and be ready to roll."

Bourbon Courage, headed to the New Orleans Handicap, has trained well at the Fair Grounds since finishing second in the Grade 1 Donn at Gulfstream Park, said Evan Downing, assistant to trainer Kellyn Gorder.

NEW ORLEANS - Banjammer, who ran away with a two-turn starter/optional claiming race Wednesday by 7 1/2 lengths, has won two consecutive races since being claimed by trainer Tim Glyshaw on Feb. 8 for $10,000.

On Feb. 23, Banjammer defeated first-level optional claiming rivals in his first start for Glyshaw.

Banjammer, My My Maria, and Tiban - all claimed by Glyshaw from low-level races - combined for six of Glyshaw's 12 victories at this meet.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The aggressiveness that Vyjack displayed earlier in his career was not evident Friday morning at Aqueduct as the undefeated 3-year-old worked an easy half-mile over the inner track in preparation for the $1 million Wood Memorial on April 6.

Taking his cues from his trainer and exercise rider Rudy Rodriguez, Vyjack breezed four furlongs in 51.23 seconds over the inner track. He went his first quarter in 26.44 and his second quarter in 24.79 with Rodriguez not moving his hands on the gelding. Vyjack galloped out five furlongs in 1:03.69.

NEW ORLEANS – The morning after Abstraction overpowered his opposition in one of the most impressive maiden performances of the Fair Grounds meet, trainer David Carroll was talking about taking a conservative approach with the colt.

On Wednesday, Abstraction showed exceptional talent, but he won’t be rushed into stakes.