OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Mark Casse said Conquest Big E can’t stand the heat, so he plans to get him out of south Florida.
Casse said Thursday that Conquest Big E likely will make his next start in the Grade 3, $400,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on March 5. The horse was scheduled to breeze Friday morning at Palm Meadows in south Florida, and provided all goes well, he will ship here Tuesday.
“I got to keep him out of the heat,” Casse said. “That limits my options.”
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Mohaymen has progressed with every start, displaying sharp speed to win sprinting in his debut and progressing through three subsequent stakes races, the last two around two turns, including a victory here at Gulfstream Park last time out in the Holy Bull.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Conquest Windycity is a 3-year-old who wants 1 1/4 miles, according to trainer Mark Casse, and he will soon get a shot at one of the Kentucky Derby preps. Conquest Windycity has put himself under consideration for the Grade 2, $900,000 Rebel at his Oaklawn Park base by winning his first start of the year last Friday.
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin woke up Wednesday morning to find email and text messages from his brother Neal, who is nearly halfway around the world in Dubai with the likes of Grade 1 winner Frosted.
Hours later, after the final renovation break at Palm Meadows, McLaughlin oversaw the gallop of Mohaymen, the current Kentucky Derby favorite, who is entered to run Saturday in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Only a handful of challengers were entered on Wednesday to face Mohaymen on Saturday in the Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park, and the field could be even smaller by race day, because trainer Stanley Gold was contemplating whether to run both Awesome Banner and Fellowship, or merely go with Fellowship and re-route Awesome Banner to the Tampa Bay Derby on March 12.
WHO’S HOT
The lone newcomer to this week’s Derby Watch top 20 is Forevamo, who finished second in the Risen Star Stakes last Saturday at Fair Grounds. He is 30-1 on the Kentucky Derby future line set by Mike Watchmaker, Daily Racing Form’s national handicapper. Gun Runner, the Risen Star winner, and Mo Tom, who finished a troubled third in the race, both have been lowered to 15-1 on Watchmaker’s line after being 20-1 a week ago.
MohaymenBy Tapit–Justwhistledixie, by Dixie Union
($2.2 million purchase by Shadwell Stud at 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale)
:: DERBY WATCH: Top 20 list | McLaughlin playing game on global scale
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Cadeyrn, an 11-length maiden winner over the inner track Saturday, will be pointed to the Grade 1, $1 million Wood Memorial over Aqueduct’s main track April 9, trainer Jeremiah Englehart said Monday.
After a second and two thirds to begin his career, Cadeyrn, equipped with blinkers for the first time, galloped to a front-running score in a one-mile maiden heat Saturday. He ran the mile in 1:38.47 and earned an 80 Beyer Speed Figure.
NEW ORLEANS – It was a bunched finish at the Risen Star, and if you’re not totally certain who among the top finishers was the best horse in the race, tune in again March 26, when at least the top three home Saturday at Fair Grounds should be back for the $1 million Louisiana Derby
Gun Runner, first by a half-length over Forevamo, came out of the race “really well,” trainer Steve Asmussen said Sunday morning, and will be pointed for the Louisiana Derby.
Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes, 1 1/16 miles, Fair Grounds, Feb. 20, 2016
(50 Derby qualifying points for a win, 20 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth)
Winner: Gun Runner, by Candy Ride
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC and Three Chimneys Farm
Beyer Speed Figure: 90
