Tom’s d’Etat, who finished off 2019 as one of hottest older dirt-route horses in North America, will start his 2020 campaign in the Ben Ali Stakes on April 11 at Keeneland.
His connections, Gayle Benson’s GMB Racing and trainer Al Stall, had considered a comeback race in the New Orleans Classic on March 21 but will head north from New Orleans before getting Tom’s d’Etat started.
A pair of Tom Amoss-trained Oaklawn Park-bound stakes runners, 4-year-old filly Serengeti Empress and 3-year-old colt No Parole, turned in major works this past weekend at Fair Grounds for their upcoming starts.
Serengeti Empress worked five furlongs in 59.60, the fastest of 40 works at the distance Saturday morning. Serengeti Empress typically is a strong work horse and this drill was no exception.
“She worked very well and came out of it in good shape, too,” Amoss said Sunday morning.
Mr. Monomoy, who won a division of the Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 15 at Fair Grounds, essentially securing a spot in the Kentucky Derby with the 50 Derby qualifying points he earned there, is out of training and off the Triple Crown trail.
Mr. Monomoy has a relatively minor ankle injury diagnosed after he came back from a routine gallop last week carrying heat in the joint, according to Liz Crow, who, through BSW-Crow Bloodstock serves as Mr. Monomoy’s racing manager for owners Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, and Doheny Racing Stable.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Ete Indien took a significant step toward the Kentucky Derby with his victory in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on Saturday, but the path forward is opaque for Dennis’ Moment, who finished last as the favorite without, as of Sunday morning, any excuse.
Those were the major plot points on Sunday morning here in South Florida, where two important Derby preps remain, the Tampa Bay Derby on Saturday, and then the Florida Derby later this month at Gulfstream Park. After that, the top 3-year-olds in these parts begin heading north.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The disappointment trainer Dale Romans felt on Saturday owing to the poor performance of Dennis’ Moment in the Fountain of Youth was tempered somewhat by the dynamic race turned in by Mr Freeze in the Gulfstream Park Mile. He got a Beyer Speed Figure of 107 for his runaway victory in the one-turn mile dirt race, and is now headed to the Godolphin Mile in Dubai at the end of the month, Romans said Sunday morning.
“I guess we’ll go to the Godolphin Mile,” said Romans, who described Mr Freeze’s race as “fantastic.”
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez announced Saturday that he has parted ways with his longtime friend and agent Angel Cordero Jr. and hired Ron Anderson to handle his riding engagements moving forward.
“Angel and I have split up, Ron Anderson is going to be representing me from now on,” Velazquez said moments after riding Shotski in the Fountain of Youth. “Ron has handled several big riders really well, and when it comes to the big races and everything he is great.”
Velazquez said the decision to part-company with Cordero was a tough one.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. scratched his top 3-year-old prospect Chance It from Saturday’s Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, citing the poor post position as the reason for bypassing the important Kentucky Derby prep with a horse who was among the leading contenders in the 1 1/16-mile fixture. Chance It will now run next Saturday in the Tampa Bay Derby.
A powerful Maryland Senate committee on Friday approved a bill sought by the state racing industry that would allow the state to issue bonds to fund the renovation of Laurel Park and Pimlico Racecourse.
The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee passed the bill unanimously, according to local reports and Maryland racing officials. The bill is expected to be voted on in the full Senate next week, the officials said, and it is likely to pass.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The Parx-based trainer Uriah St. Lewis on Friday was hoping for a big week in New York.
On Saturday, he runs Adventist in the $100,000 Bernardini Stakes. Next Saturday, he plans to run Informative in the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes for 3-year-olds.
It took Informative eight tries to get his first win, and that victory came going a mile at Aqueduct on Feb. 8. The Gotham is also run at a mile at Aqueduct.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – With John Velazquez committed to ride at Tampa Bay Downs next Saturday, Junior Alvarado has picked up the mount on Mind Control for Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap at Aqueduct.
Mind Control came off a five-month layoff to win the Grade 3 Toboggan by a nose under Velazquez on Jan. 18. It was the sixth win from 11 starts for Mind Control, with five of those wins coming with Velazquez up.
Trainer Gregg Sacco said he is looking to use the Tom Fool as a way to have Mind Control ready for the Grade 1 Carter here on April 4.
