CYPRESS, Calif. – California Chrome resumed workouts on Saturday at Los Alamitos, two weeks after winning his third consecutive stakes in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita and two weeks before a start in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby.
California Chrome worked a solo half-mile in 47.40 seconds under jockey Victor Espinoza, who did not urge California Chrome through the track’s stretch, which is just longer than a quarter-mile.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Owner Ron Sanchez said the April 5 Wood Memorial – not the Florida Derby on Saturday – will be next for Social Inclusion shortly after the undefeated 3-year-old worked a half-mile from the three-eighths pole in 49.11 seconds Saturday morning at Gulfstream Park.
With jockey Jose Contreras aboard, Social Inclusion went his opening three furlongs to the wire in 36.36 before continuing on willingly without being asked into the clubhouse turn. He galloped out five-eighths in 1:03.37.
Four potential Florida Derby starters worked at Palm Meadows on Saturday, topped by Cairo Prince, who breezed an easy half-mile in 50.90. He was joined on the Palm Meadows tab by Constitution (four furlongs in 49.30), Spot (bullet half-mile in 47.70) and Matador (five-eighths in 1:01).
With a plethora of negativity swirling around him, trainer Steve Asmussen got some good news Saturday when it was revealed that his top 3-year-olds for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks will remain in his care.
David Fiske, the racing manager for owner Ron Winchell, confirmed on Saturday that Asmussen would continue to train Tapiture and Untapable, leading contenders for the Derby and Oaks, respectively.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Though trainer Tony Dutrow was initially planning to bring Gotham Stakes third-place finisher In Trouble back to New York for the Wood Memorial on April 5, he is now giving serious consideration to running him in next Saturday’s Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds.
Both races are run at 1 1/8 miles, worth $1 million, and offer the same amount of qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby (100-40-20-10) to the first four finishers. The only difference is the Wood is a Grade 1, the Louisiana Derby a Grade 2.
The Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Park Derby has carved out a legitimate spot on the Triple Crown trail since its purse was boosted significantly in 2003. The field for Sunday’s renewal drives that point home, as four of the nine runners set to start hail from two of the biggest names in racing, trainers Bob Baffert and Todd Pletcher.
Blame it on the Bird.
No single player is bigger than the game, or at least that’s what we are taught in school. But history has its way of producing exceptions to every rule.
Ayrton Senna was the greatest Formula 1 driver of the 1990s, but he pushed the envelope and drove with an aggressive abandon that antagonized his competitors and tested the safety limits of the sport. His death in May 1994 in a crash during the San Marino Grand Prix inspired changes to the cars and new emergency protocols. No Formula 1 driver has died in a race since then.
Intense Holiday, Albano, and Vicar’s in Trouble – the first three finishers in the Risen Star Stakes – are among eight 3-year-olds headed to the Louisiana Derby, Fair Grounds stakes coordinator Scott Jones said Wednesday. The others are Commanding Curve, Gold Hawk, In Trouble, Louies Flower, and Rise Up.
For the first time since late November at Churchill Downs, there is graded stakes action Saturday in my home state of Kentucky. So the Weekend Warrior is going to hit the road, driving up 1-71 from Louisville to Florence, Ky., for Spiral Day at Turfway Park.
Full fields in the Grade 3 Spiral and Grade 3 Bourbonette make them attractive betting races, and in New York, a live longshot looms in the Grade 3 Excelsior at Aqueduct.
Spiral Stakes
ARCADIA, Calif. - Bond Holder, fourth in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, continues being treated for laminitis at a Florida veterinary clinic, trainer Doug O’Neill said Thursday.
“It’s so far, so good,” O’Neill said. “He had a good night.”
[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]
