This is it – the final week of the long Fair Grounds meet. And the more the top of the 3-year-old male class stabled in New Orleans this winter shows itself, the greater the realization that the group – the ones who ran in stakes, at least – was not a strong one. TIZNOW R J was poor again at Sunland Park this past weekend, and while WIRELESS FUTURE didn’t get a good trip, he also failed to distinguish himself in the Spiral Stakes at Turfway.
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DRF Past Performances
Champion AMERICAN PHAROAH continues to lead the local 3-year-old division off his 6 1/4-length win in the Grade 2, $750,000 Rebel Stakes this month. He invaded from Southern California and could return for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 11.
Top 3-year-old males
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Josie Carroll did not confirm Ami’s Flatter as a definite starter in Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby, but she certainly was leaning in that direction after the Tampa Bay Derby runner-up breezed a half-mile in 49 seconds at Palm Meadows on Monday.
“I was pretty happy with the work, and if he looks good [Tuesday], we’ll probably go there,” Carroll said, referring to the Grade 1 Florida Derby, which was to be drawn late Tuesday afternoon in the walking ring at Gulfstream Park.
Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby, 1 1/8 miles, Sunland Park, March 22, 2015
(50 Derby qualifying points for a win, 20 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth)
Winner: Firing Line
Trainer: Simon Callaghan
Jockey: Gary Stevens
Owner: Arnold Zetcher LLC
Beyer Speed Figure: 97
ARCADIA, Calif. - Dortmund and Prospect Park, the two leading contenders for the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 4, had vital six-furlong workouts in Southern California on Saturday.
Dortmund, unbeaten in five starts, worked in 1:12 at Santa Anita, the second-fastest of 18 works at the distance. Dortmund started his workout alone and joined horses who started several lengths in front, trainer Bob Baffert said.
“He caught some company to keep him interested,” Baffert said. “They kept him going all the way around.”
ARCADIA, Calif. – One Lucky Dane may have earned a start in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 4 after winning his 3-year-old debut in a first-level optional $80,000 claimer at Santa Anita on Thursday.
Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, One Lucky Dane ($2.80) led throughout and pulled away from four rivals to win by 9 3/4 lengths over Harmonic in 1:35.48. He earned a career-best 96 Beyer Speed Figure.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Frosted is coming home in an attempt to get back on the road to the Kentucky Derby.
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin confirmed Friday that Frosted will make his next start in the Grade 1, $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 4. The Wood, at 1 1/8 miles, is run over Aqueduct’s main track where last fall Frosted won a one-mile maiden race by 5 1/4 lengths before running a strong second to Leave the Light On in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The way racetracks now operate, an event as big as the $1 million Florida Derby on March 28 requires it to be the centerpiece of a multiple-stakes day.
True to form, seven other stakes – all but one of them graded – will be on the undercard of the Grade 1 Florida Derby on a blockbuster 14-race program next Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
He’s the best horse, with the best form, drew the best post, and the horse perceived as his closest rival is scratched. After a pair of tough-luck losses, it appears as though Firing Line has landed an ideal spot to get his first stakes win – and secure a berth in the Kentucky Derby on May 2 – when he starts as the heavy favorite Sunday in the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby at Sunland Park.