HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday that Southern California-based Muth handled a number of new variables with aplomb winning Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.5 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park – save one.
“The only thing he didn’t handle was the flowers,” Baffert said of the blanket of gardenias. “When they went to put the flowers on, he didn’t want any part of that. I told them to bring them back home. We’re going to school him in the flowers.”
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Todd Pletcher said Sunday that Fierceness came out of his record-setting 13 1/2-length victory in Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby in good order while continuing to marvel at the scope of the reigning juvenile champion male’s performance, which more than made amends for his disappointing third-place finish in the Grade 3 Holy Bull eight weeks earlier.
The Japanese connections of the 3-year-old colt Forever Young have made no secret of their desire to run the horse in the Kentucky Derby. The 100 qualifying points Forever Young earned winning the U.A.E. Derby on Saturday, a key cog in Churchill Downs’ Road to the Derby, assure him a spot in the field, and Forever Young leaves Dubai for Churchill on April 10.
WHO’S HOT
Catching Freedom took advantage of a pro-closers race flow in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby to score a last-to-first victory at Fair Grounds and cement his Kentucky Derby credentials. Catching Freedom and runner-up Honor Marie, who rallied from next-to-last, were both exiting the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes won by Derby Watch favorite Sierra Leone. Subsequently, linemaker David Aragona lowered Sierra Leone to 6-1 and Catching Freedom to 8-1 second choice. Honor Marie was trimmed to 15-1 co-sixth choice.
Catching Freedom is catching a ride on a horse van from New Orleans to Louisville, where he’ll have the better part of a six weeks’ wait until a start in the May 4 Kentucky Derby.
Catching Freedom exited his one-length win Saturday in the $1 million Louisiana Derby healthy and happy, trainer Brad Cox reported Sunday morning, and will have a chance to become Cox’s first outright Derby winner.
West Saratoga, second to Endlessly in the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby on Saturday at Turfway Park, will proceed to the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, having likely amassed the points to get into the starting gate.
West Saratoga, trained by Larry Demeritte for Harry Veruchi, won the first points race toward the Kentucky Derby, last September’s Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs, before finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland.
Endlessly, who dominated the Grade 3, $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks on Saturday at Turfway Park, was to ship to trainer Michael McCarthy’s Churchill Downs barn on Sunday – but most likely not to prepare for the Kentucky Derby, despite essentially assuring himself a spot in the field.
NEW ORLEANS – On July 12 of last year, Catching Freedom worked in company with Mozlzil and Quarrymen, the two breeze companions leaving Catching Freedom in their wake.
In August and into autumn, Catching Freedom worked regularly with a colt named Ethan Energy, who, just as regularly, spanked him in those team drills.
On Jan. 28 at Fair Grounds, Awesome Road breezed under a death grip to keep him from burying Catching Freedom, and on Feb. 3, the filly Alpine Princess absolutely dusted Catching Freedom in a serious Fair Grounds drill.
NEW ORLEANS – Wednesday was shipping day for the Todd Pletcher-trained 3-year-olds based in Florida and entered in stakes races Saturday at Fair Grounds and Turfway Park, and thus it was time to make a final call on who was running where.
Agate Road is headed to New Orleans for the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby, Pletcher confirmed in a text message, while Triple Espresso is bound for Turfway Park and the Grade 3, $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks. The two colts were cross-entered last weekend in both races.
