Trainer Mark Casse already has one talented 3-year-old targeted for the Kentucky Derby in Risen Star winner War of Will. And if dreams are made this Saturday, he could have more joining that colt, with Casse starting Dream Maker and Sir Winston in the Grade 2, $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby and Skywire in the Grade 3, $200,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The manner in which Instagrand won his first two starts had the racing world abuzz and observers believing they were possibly witnessing racing’s next big thing.

Instagrand won his career debut by 10 lengths in June at Los Alamitos and six weeks later he galloped by 10 1/4 lengths in the Grade 2 Best Pal at Del Mar.

However, as rapidly as Instagrand rose to prominence he was whisked away to the farm for a break, owing to nothing more than owner’s prerogative.

Somelikeithotbrown was made the 8-5 morning-line favorite and Skywire the 3-1 second choice when 11 3-year-olds were entered Wednesday for Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.

Among the numerous impacts of the unprecedented suspension of racing at Santa Anita is that trainers of top Kentucky Derby prospects who were scheduled to run in the Grade 2, $500,000 San Felipe Stakes on Saturday are sorting through options while flying blind as to when racing will resume at Santa Anita.

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Kathleen O’Connell has been fighting a nasty cold for about a month now, but as she would readily tell you, it’s better her than one of her horses. As one of many signs of her devotion to her stable, O’Connell has refused to skip a morning or two at either of her winter bases, Gulfstream Park West or Tampa Bay Downs, despite feeling downright miserable.

“No,” she said Wednesday between sets at Tampa, where on Saturday she will saddle Well Defined as a major contender in the track’s annual showcase event, the Grade 2, $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby.

Code of Honor
Noble Mission – Reunited, by Dixie Union
Bred in Kentucky by W.S. Farish

WHO’S HOT

Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes, 1 1/16 miles, Gulfstream Park, March 2, 2019

 (50 Derby qualifying points for a win, 20 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth)

 Winner: Code of Honor, by Noble Mission

 Trainer: Shug McGaughey

 Jockey: John Velazquez

 Owner: W. S. Farish

 Beyer Speed Figure: 95

Ten new names are in the lineup for Pool 3 of the 2019 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which opens Friday at noon Eastern for the customary three-day run.

Pool 3 coincides with the only futures pool toward the 2019 Kentucky Oaks, with an Oaks-Derby double future wager being offered for the second year.

:: DERBY WATCH: Top 20 Kentucky Derby contenders with comments from Jay Privman and Mike Watchmaker

Global Campaign had a big excuse for his fifth-place finish under Luis Saez in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth last Saturday at Gulfstream Park, one that will put an end to his Kentucky Derby dreams.