Top 3-year-old males
Far Right continues his reign as the leader of the 3-year-old division at Oaklawn Park, where the next Arkansas Derby prep on the calendar is the Grade 2, $750,000 Rebel on March 14. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas made news last week when he told Daily Racing Form that Take Charge Brandi, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2014, is being considered for the Rebel. If she were to run, the race would match last year’s 2-year-old champs, as American Pharoah is being pointed for the Rebel. Lukas said Take Charge Brandi is also a candidate to remain in her division for the Grade 3, $150,000 Honeybee.
The role of favorite for the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes became crystal clear with confirmation from owner Kaleem Shah that DORTMUND will run in the 1 1/16-mile race this Saturday, rather than wait for the Santa Anita Derby on April 4.
Dortmund is 4 for 4, including a thrilling victory in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis on Feb. 7. Trainer Bob Baffert originally indicated he would skip the San Felipe and wait for the Santa Anita Derby. Those plans changed. Dortmund is certain to start favored in a good San Felipe lineup.
Dortmund, the leading 3-year-old in California, will start in the $400,000 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Saturday, owner Kaleem Shah said on Sunday.
Trained by Bob Baffert, Dortmund won the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 7, and is considered the leading contender for the $1 million Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles on April 4. Dortmund is unbeaten in four starts, including the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity in December.
Far From Over, the Withers Stakes winner, will skip next Saturday’s Grade 3, $400,000 Gotham Stakes and will instead train up to the $1 million Wood Memorial on April 4, his connections confirmed on Sunday.
Also, Steven Marshall's Black Rock Thoroughbreds has sold a quarter interest in Far From Over to James Covello and Sol Kumin, the latter of whom races under the moniker Madaket Stable.
Even with Gulfstream Park canceling racing after the fifth race Saturday due to heavy thunderstorms, and as a consequence postponing the return of the Todd Pletcher-trained Daredevil in the Swale, Pletcher ended up winning a stakes for 3-year-olds anyway.
The Pletcher-trained Royal Son, the 9-1 third choice in the race, led throughout to take the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park in a 5 1/4-length romp, while 1-5 favorite The Great War bombed, falling apart after chasing the pace for six furlongs and running last, with Equibase chart callers commenting he bled.
ARCADIA, Calif. -- Verraco’s win in an optional claimer for 3-year-olds on Friday may lead to a start in the $800,000 Sunland Derby in New Mexico on March 22.
Trainer Jim Cassidy said on Saturday that Verraco emerged from his second career win on Friday in good order, and that Sunland Derby and the $550,000 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park on March 21 were mentioned as possibilities by owner Deron Pearson.