WHO’S HOT

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Strong Mandate put in his major work for the Arkansas Derby on Tuesday morning, when he went five furlongs in 1:00.80 under regular exercise rider Alberto Rodriguez. He drilled in the second set after the renovation break, with Oaklawn head clocker Hamilton catching the horse through an opening eighth of a mile in 11.80 seconds, a first quarter in 23.40, and three furlongs in 35.80.

Strong Mandate was joined in the stretch by a stablemate, and the pair worked on to the wire while finishing on even terms.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The seemingly never-ending New York winter was testing, to say the least. Many mornings – or afternoons – were not fit for man nor beast.

But through the snow, the ice, and the bitter cold, Uncle Sigh has endured and emerged as a legitimate Kentucky Derby candidate. Gutty runner-up finishes to Samraat over Aqueduct’s inner track in the Withers and Gotham – with the worst of the trips in both races – have Uncle Sigh one solid effort away from making it to Churchill Downs.

Toast of New York has returned to his yard in Great Britain following his victory Saturday in the United Arab Emirates Derby, but whether he’ll venture across the ocean in a few weeks to try dirt for the first time in the May 3 Kentucky Derby is a decision his trainer, Jamie Osborne, is not ready to make just yet.

Trainer Todd Pletcher will be seeking his fourth Wood Memorial victory in the last five years Saturday at Aqueduct, but for the first time in that span, he will not be running the favorite in the Grade 1 race.

“I’m going to go in totally relaxed this year,” Pletcher joked Sunday at Palm Meadows.

In the $1 million Wood, Pletcher will start Harpoon, a son of Tapit who has won just once in six career starts. Harpoon is owned by Let’s Go Stable, the same outfit that owned Verrazano, who won last year’s Wood as the 4-5 favorite.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Hoppertunity, the winner of the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 15, will be trainer Bob Baffert’s lone starter in Saturday’s $1 million Santa Anita Derby, he said on Monday.

Baffert, who has won the Santa Anita Derby a record six times, said he plans to run the unbeaten Bayern in the $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 12. He said plans are unclear for The Admiral, the winner of an allowance race at Santa Anita on March 16 who had been considered a Santa Anita Derby candidate.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Tapiture had a significant workout Monday for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby, breezing five furlongs in company in 1:00.80 at his Oaklawn Park base. He could go favored in the Arkansas Derby, a 1 1/8-mile race that closes out the meet April 12.

Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby, Fair Grounds, 1 1/8 miles, March 29
(100 Derby qualifying points for a win, 50 for second, 20 for third, 10 for fourth)

After a major thunderstorm forced Fair Grounds to cancel racing Friday, clockings were slow Saturday at most points of call in most route races on this heavily manicured racing strip, including the clockings recorded in this $1 million contest.

Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby, Gulfstream Park, 1 1/8 miles, March 29
(100 Derby qualifying points for a win, 50 for second, 20 for third, 10 for fourth)

Cairo Prince was supposed to confirm his status as one of the top contenders for the 1 ¼-mile Kentucky Derby, but he turned in a relatively flat performance, finishing fourth to a new rising star, Constitution.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Hoppertunity, the winner of the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 15, worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 at Santa Anita on Sunday, leading trainer Bob Baffert to deem the colt a “possibility” for Saturday’s $1 million Santa Anita Derby.

Hoppertunity has won 2 of 4 starts and earned $410,720 for owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman. By Any Given Saturday, Hoppertunity was fourth in his stakes debut in the Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds on Feb. 22 and rebounded to win the Rebel Stakes over 1 1/16 miles by a half-length.