Revolutionary, winner of the Louisiana Derby on Saturday, will ship to WinStar Farm in Kentucky along with New Orleans Handicap winner Graydar for a few days before moving on to Churchill Downs later in the week. Both horses are owned, in part, by WinStar.
Revolutionary was awarded a Beyer Speed Figure of 93 for his neck win over Mylute in the Louisiana Derby.
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. - Less than 13 hours after winning Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park aboard Orb, jockey John Velazquez was at the Palm Meadows training center Sunday morning to guide the undefeated 3-year-old Verrazano through his final workout leading up to next Saturday’s $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.
NEW ORLEANS – Whether he comes inside and knifes through traffic, or takes the scenic route and goes around everyone, Revolutionary is moving forward like a horse to be reckoned with in the Kentucky Derby on May 4.
Revolutionary ($6.80) took a significant step forward on Saturday, when he made a powerful, wide move on the final turn, then held off a pesky Mylute to win the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds.
[DERBY WATCH: Top 20 Kentucky Derby contenders with odds and video]
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey was concerned when the meet began that the speed-favoring Gulfstream Park surface might not favor a late-running horse like Orb. But the ever-improving Orb put those fears to rest not once, not twice, but three times during the session, culminating a perfect winter in south Florida by rallying to a courageous 2 3/4-length victory over the 8-5 favorite Itsmyluckyday in Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby.
Orb also gave jockey John Velazquez his fifth win on the card, four of those victories coming in graded stakes.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Power Broker has been something of a forgotten horse in recent months, even if he was a Grade 1 winner as a 2-year-old last September.
He can make up for lost time in Saturday’s $750,000 Santa Anita Derby.
[DERBY WATCH: Top 20 Kentucky Derby contenders with odds and video]
ARCADIA, Calif. – In the three weeks since Goldencents finished fourth in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on March 9, trainer Doug O’Neill has focused on teaching the two-time stakes winner to reserve his speed.
The eighth season of Countdown to the Crown returns as one of the most comprehensive handicapper’s scouting reports of the 3-year-old scene. Posted each Friday at DRF.com from Jan. 4 through the Belmont Stakes, Countdown keeps you apprised of the rising stars of the 3-year-old class from the maiden ranks through the Grade 1 stakes. You can access daily updates, opinions and interactive features at Countdowntothecrown.com as well.
Straight from the gate
NEW ORLEANS – Strange, this 100th running of the Louisiana Derby. The prep, the Risen Star, was won by the longshot Ive Struck a Nerve, who subsequently was injured and is off the Kentucky Derby trail. And since the Risen Star field found the first eight finishers separated by less than four lengths, five of them are signed up for another go-round Saturday. Why not?
ARCADIA, Calif. – Den’s Legacy and Super Ninety Nine have been on the same springtime schedule in recent weeks.
They were third and fifth in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 16 for trainer Bob Baffert. Thursday at Santa Anita, they worked a half-mile in company, with Den’s Legacy setting the fastest time of the morning, at 47 seconds, and Super Ninety Nine going a tick slower, at 47.20.
They will part ways in coming weeks. Super Ninety Nine is part of Baffert’s three hopes for the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 6.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Neither trainer Shug McGaughey nor owner Dinny Phipps are prone to contracting Derby fever. But there’s no doubt temperatures have been rising around the barn ever since Orb entered the Kentucky Derby picture with his come-from-behind victory over the odds-on Violence in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth earlier this winter.
