OLDSMAR, Fla. – McCraken already has shown that he can win a major race at Churchill Downs, and on Saturday, he can prove that he’s deserving of another trip to the Louisville track for the Kentucky Derby on May 6.
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DRF Past Performances
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Although tempted to launch Three Rules’s 3-year-old campaign in the Grade 2 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park last weekend, trainer Jose Pinchin stuck to his original plan and began the year on a more conservative note in the seven-furlong Swale.
And despite seeing Three Rules drop a three-quarter-length decision to Favorable Outcome in the Grade 2 Swale and then watching 2-year-old male champion Classic Empire disappoint in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull, Pinchin does not regret his decision.
Maryland racing pulled off a somewhat amazing triple last Saturday when Laurel Park-based El Areeb scored his fourth consecutive victory in the Grade 3 Withers at Aqueduct and Irish War Cry and Tequilita won Grade 2 stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Holy Bull Stakes winner Irish War Cry, trained by Graham Motion, and the Michael Matz-conditioned Tequilita, the $31 winner of the Forward Gal, were based at the Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md., during their 2-year-old seasons before being shipped to Florida in late fall.
Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes, 1 1/16 miles, Aqueduct, Feb. 4, 2017
(10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)
Winner: El Areeb, by Exchange Rate
Trainer: Cathal Lynch
Jockey: Trevor McCarthy
Owner: M M G Stables LLC
Beyer Speed Figure: 92
Grade 2, $350,000 Holy Bull Stakes; 1 1/16 miles; Gulfstream; Feb. 4, 2017
(10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)
Winner: Irish War Cry, by Curlin
Trainer: Graham Motion
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Owner: Isabelle de Tomaso
Beyer Speed Figure: 97
Grade 3, $150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes; 1 1/16 miles; Santa Anita; Feb. 4, 2017
(10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)
Winner: Royal Mo, by Uncle Mo
Trainer: John Shirreffs
Jockey: Victor Espinoza
Owner: Jerry and Ann Moss
Beyer Speed Figure: 93
The colt who knocked the Florida road to the Kentucky Derby askew last Saturday is named for Ireland, is by a Kentucky stallion, and has roots in European breeding. But his actual birthplace is a state not known for producing top Thoroughbreds – New Jersey.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - As well as El Areeb performed on a wet surface dominating the Grade 3 Jerome Stakes by 11 1/4 lengths at Aqueduct last month, his connections believe the 3-year-old is better on a dry surface.
El Areeb certainly gave credence to that theory Saturday with another strong performance, taking over from True Timber in upper stretch and drawing off to a 4 1/4-length victory in the Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes at chilly Aqueduct. True Timber, who set the pace after stumbling badly at the start, held second by a half-length over J Boys Echo.
ARCADIA, Calif. – If we’re approaching springtime, jockey Victor Espinoza must have prospects for the Kentucky Derby. He has won it three times, twice in the last three runnings, with California Chrome and American Pharoah, and he is moving forward again this year, with Gormley and Royal Mo, both owned by Jerry and Ann Moss, both trained by John Shirreffs, and both now graded stakes winners this meet at Santa Anita.