El Areeb established himself as a Kentucky Derby prospect when he romped by 11 1/4 lengths in the Jerome Stakes last Monday at Aqueduct. Pressing the pace, he took the fight out of front-running favorite Takaful, pulled away on the turn to win with ease, and recorded a 91 Beyer Speed Figure, one of the better route dirt figures by a 2-year-old of 2016.
Girvin impressed trainer Joe Sharp enough winning his career debut Dec. 16 at Fair Grounds that he plans to give the colt his second start in the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes on Jan. 21.
Girvin, by Tale of Ekati out of Catch the Moon, by Malibu Moon, showed excellent early speed in his debut, and after a race-long battle edged another talented first-timer, Excitations, by a head. He ran six furlongs in 1:10.32, earning an 87 Beyer, the best figure for a 2-year-old during 2016 at Fair Grounds.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – While trainer Kiaran McLaughlin brought the bulk of his top-caliber horses to south Florida for the winter, he left one potentially very good horse behind for the time being.
Takaful, who dazzled in his debut before disappointing in the Remsen, will kick off 2017 in Monday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct, the first race on this circuit for New York-based 3-year-olds with hopes of making it to the Kentucky Derby on May 6.
Grade 1, $300,000 Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity; 1 1/16 miles; Los Alamitos; Dec. 10, 2016
(10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)
Winner: Mastery, by Candy Ride
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Mike Smith
Owner: Cheyenne Stables LLC
Beyer Speed Figure: 91
Much will be expected in the next six months from Mastery, who gave trainer Bob Baffert a record ninth win in the $300,000 Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity on Saturday.
Mastery is undefeated in three starts, including two stakes, and is the leading California-based hope for the Triple Crown. In the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity, Mastery won the race at 1 1/16 miles by 7 1/4 lengths, a record margin in the 36th running of a race run at Hollywood Park from 1981-2013.
Grade 2, $300,000 Remsen Stakes, 1 1/8 miles, Aqueduct, Nov. 26, 2016
(10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)
Winner: Mo Town, by Uncle Mo
Trainer: Tony Dutrow
Jockey: John Velazquez
Owners: Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Team D
Beyer Speed Figure: 86
Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot, 1 1/16 miles, Delta Downs, Nov. 19, 2016
(10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)
Winner: Gunnevera, by Dialed In
Trainer: Antonio Sano
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Owner: Peacock Racing Stables LLC
The American Graded Stakes Committee has downgraded three Grade 1 races, including two key Kentucky Derby prep races, and upgraded the Pennsylvania Derby from Grade 2 to Grade 1, according to a release of the 2017 grade assignments on Friday.
Grade 1, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile; 1 1/16 miles; Santa Anita; Nov. 5, 2016
(20 Derby qualifying points for a win, 8 for second, 4 for third, 2 for fourth)
Winner: Classic Empire, by Pioneerof the Nile
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Julien Leparoux
Owner: John Oxley
Beyer Speed Figure: 102
