OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Before he attempts to jump on the Triple Crown trail, Sand Devil will get one more tune-up against New York-bred competition in Saturday’s $125,000 Damon Runyon Stakes at Aqueduct.
Sand Devil, a son of Violence owned by Chester Broman and trained by Linda Rice, figures to be around 1-5 against four rivals in the seven-furlong Damon Runyon. That explains why the race is carded as the second (1:10 p.m. post) on a nine-race card.
Trainer Chad Brown reported that Chancer McPatrick, his two-time Grade 1-winning colt of 2024 who finished sixth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, has had two workouts at Payson Park and is being pointed to the Tampa Bay Derby on March 8.
Chancer McPatrick went three furlongs in 39 seconds on Jan. 26 and then three furlongs in 37.80 seconds on Feb. 2.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Patch Adams emerged from his fourth-place finish in last month’s Grade 3 Southwest at Oaklawn Park in excellent condition, trainer Brad Cox said Tuesday, with plans for the horse’s next start still being determined.
Patch Adams was making his two-turn debut in the Southwest and was the 4-5 favorite off a November maiden special weight win at Churchill Downs. He won the seven-furlong race on the front end in 1:20.77 and the Beyer Speed Figure of 98 he earned was the second-highest number put up by a 2-year-old in 2024.
WHO’S HOT
Citizen Bull opens as 10-1 favorite on the Derby Watch Top 20 after a front-running comeback win Feb. 1 in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita. Wire-to-wire winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile three months earlier, Citizen Bull was handed an easy lead in the Lewis and was strong to the finish. He will always be tough to catch when he gets a soft trip setting the pace.
Bob Baffert is contemplating the $1.5 million Saudi Derby on Feb. 22 for Getaway Car and Romanesque, though Baffert’s itinerary for 3-year-olds is subject to change.
“This is when I nominate everywhere, I even nominated to Sunland Park,” Baffert said.
His nominees to the $400,000 Sunland Derby on Feb. 16 include Barnes, Gaming, Getaway Car, Romanesque, and San Saba. Post positions for the Sunland Derby will be drawn Sunday.
A pair that might be better suited to distances shorter than 1 1/4 miles are tentatively scheduled to ship the Middle East.
Recently honored with its fifth consecutive Eclipse Award for leading owner and having campaigned seven equine North American champions over the last four years, Godolphin – the global operation of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum – has achieved a remarkable amount of success in the United States.
While his Grade 2 Remsen winner Poster runs Saturday in the $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, trainer Eoin Harty also looks forward to the return of First Resort, winner of the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club in his most recent start Nov. 30 at Churchill Downs. First Resort is headed to the John Battaglia Stakes, a synthetic-surface race Feb. 22 at Turfway Park.
Journalism’s splashy arrival as a leading California 3-year-old hit a setback after his impressive win Dec. 14 in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity. But if a Derby candidate must have a setback, there is no better time than December or January.
“He got a temp not long after he ran, from a vaccination,” trainer Michael McCarthy said. “Just decided to let him get over it himself. It actually might have been better. Instead of rushing to make this spot, or [that spot], it worked out for the best. He looks fantastic. I mean, he looks really well.”
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Holy Bull winner Burnham Square and the exciting prospect River Thames are two of four 3-year-olds who competed here Saturday who could possibly return in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes on March 1 or await the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 29.
