Trainer Shug McGaughey said he is eyeing a February return for his top Kentucky Derby prospect Honor Code, who will make his 3-year-old debut in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth here at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 22.
McGaughey said Honor Code has done well since arriving at Payson Park shortly after he closed out his 2-year-old campaign with a game victory over Cairo Prince in the Grade 2 Remsen.
[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Todd Pletcher unveiled the newest member of his potential Kentucky Derby arsenal, Constitution, here Saturday. Constitution, a son of Tapit, overcame a very slow start to win his debut in game fashion, edging clear near the wire from the more experienced Juba following a furious stretch duel. Despite the tardy beginning, Constitution ran seven furlongs in 1:23.36 and was given a Beyer Speed Figure of 84.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Baratti proved to be a pleasant surprise winning a maiden race here last week for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, who now may have another 3-year-old prospect for the Triple Crown trail.
After finishing fifth in his debut sprinting here in December, the well-bred Baratti recorded a front-running, six-length victory going two turns over Aqueduct’s inner track last Friday. Baratti, a Darley stable homebred son of Medaglia d’Oro, ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.97 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 92.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The field for the first major Kentucky Derby prep here this winter, the Grade 2 Holy Bull on Jan. 25, is slowly beginning to take shape, with several prospective starters turning in works at Palm Meadows on Sunday.
Leading the group was trainer Kiaran McLaughlin’s top 3-year-old prospect, Cairo Prince, who breezed five furlongs in 59.90 seconds in company with stablemate Qeyaas. It was the fourth work for Cairo Prince since his hard-luck second-place finish behind Honor Code in the Grade 2 Remsen on Nov. 30.
Grade 3, $100,000 Sham Stakes; one mile; Santa Anita; Jan. 11.
(10 Derby eligibility points to the winner, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth.)
After two scratches (Top Fortitude and Life Is a Joy) reduced the Sham Stakes to a four-horse field, the one-mile race developed into an entertaining match race between heavily favored Midnight Hawk and second choice Kristo. We learned a lot about both horses.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Ride On Curlin, one of the most accomplished 3-year-olds stabled at Oaklawn Park, won his 2014 debut in Sunday’s sixth race and is now being pointed for the Grade 3, $300,000 Southwest Stakes on Feb. 17, according to trainer William Gowan. The race is Oaklawn’s first major prep for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Shared Belief, the unbeaten winner of the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity and a finalist for the Eclipse Award as champion male 2-year-old, had a scheduled workout for this weekend postponed after suffering a cut to his right front hoof, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said Sunday morning at Santa Anita.
The injury, commonly known as a “grabbed quarter,” is minor, said Hollendorfer, who said he decided the prudent approach was to merely wait it out.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Here comes the Hawk, the mighty Midnight Hawk.
Making only his second start, his first in a stakes race and his first around two turns, Midnight Hawk passed his test in the Grade 3, $98,000 Sham Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita, establishing himself - and his celebrity connections - as one of the bright lights on the road to the May 3 Kentucky Derby.
[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]
ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer John Sadler was hoping to take the next step on the Kentucky Derby trail Saturday afternoon with Kristo in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes, but early Saturday morning at Santa Anita, he was polishing his other top 3-year-old prospects, Candy Boy and Kobe’s Back, who both worked in advance of scheduled stakes starts next month.
