HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The field for the $1 million Florida Derby is starting to grow.
On Saturday, trainer Ken McPeek added Frac Daddy’s name to the short list of 3-year-olds pointing for the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 30. He announced the decision after watching Frac Daddy work five furlongs in 1:00.82 in company with his 3-year-old filly stablemate Pure Fun, a Grade 1 winner.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Elnaawi, the third-place finisher in the Gotham on March 2, began working toward a start in the $1 million Wood Memorial on April 6 by breezing an easy half-mile in 50.01 seconds Saturday morning over the Belmont Park training track.
Elnaawi, a half-brother to Grade 1 winner To Honor and Serve, breezed in company with Navy Guard, a 3-year-old maiden who is a half-brother to 2008 juvenile champion Midshipman. Elnaawi worked in blinkers, equipment he has worn in all three of his starts.
Russian Greek, the winner of a $100,000 stakes in California last year, and Thunder Lord, the runner-up in a pair of stakes worth $75,000 or more during his last two racing campaigns, bring more than a touch of back class to Monday night’s allowance feature at Mountaineer Racetrack.
Based on her rally to get third in a Grade 2 stakes last month, Withgreatpleasure would seem to be a bargain at her 9-5 morning-line odds for Tuesday night’s $35,000 overnight handicap for fillies and mares at Charles Town. A closer look at her record in three previous visits to the six-furlong West Virginia track, however, might sway bettors to look for a viable alternative.
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.
