SUNLAND PARK, N.M. – Govenor Charlie was set to return to California on Tuesday following his victory here Sunday in the Sunland Derby, a race that earned him enough points to secure a starting berth in the Kentucky Derby on May 4 at Churchill Downs and ended the round of Derby preps worth 50 points to the winner.
The waters get even deeper now.
Titletown Five’s star has fallen over the past several weeks. Although part of the mutuel field in the first pool of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, Titletown Five made the cut in the second leg due to his encouraging juvenile form and early season workouts.
After losing as the 11-10 favorite in his seasonal reappearance, the $60,000 Gazebo Stakes going six furlongs at Oaklawn Park on March 2, Titletown Five was dismissed at 70-1 in the second future wager and was removed as an individual entity from the third pool altogether.
SUNLAND PARK, N.M. – Completing a blockbuster day at Sunland Park for trainer Bob Baffert, owner Mike Pegram, and the sire Midnight Lute, Govenor Charlie cruised to a five-length victory on Sunday in the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby.
A little more than a half-hour earlier, Baffert and Pegram scored in the Sunland Park Oaks with the filly Midnight Lucky, like Govenor Charlie progeny of Midnight Lute.
[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]
LOUISVILLE - With fans splitting their wagers among a host of Kentucky Derby hopefuls, the mutuel field closed Sunday as the favorite again in the third and final pool of the 2013Kentucky Derby Future Wager, with Verrazano a clear second choice.
The field, the 24th or “all others” option, closed at a lukewarm 5-1, followed by Verrazano at 7-1. They were followed in close order by Itsmyluckyday (10-1), Vyjack (10-1), Revolutionary (12-1), Orb (13-1), Flashback (15-1), Hear the Ghost (15-1), and, remarkably enough, five more horses between 18-1 and 21-1.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Hear the Ghost, the winner of the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on March 9, worked six furlongs in 1:13.60 at Betfair Hollywood Park on Sunday, continuing his preparation for the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 6.
“It looks like we’re right on schedule,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said. “He galloped out strongly.”
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Juvenile champion Shanghai Bobby breezed five furlongs in 1:00.77 Sunday morning at Palm Meadows, his final work in preparation for Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby.
FLORENCE, Ky. – Black Onyx, the 15-1 winner of the Grade 3, $550,000 Spiral Stakes on Saturday at Turfway Park, exited the race in fine shape and was scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs on Tuesday or Wednesday to settle in for his next start in the May 4 Kentucky Derby, trainer Kelly Breen said early Sunday.
LOUISVILLE – With one day to go in the third and final pool of the 2013 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, Verrazano is a 6-1 favorite over the mutuel field.
The final six hours of wagering into Pool 3 began at noon Eastern and closes at 6 p.m.
FLORENCE, Ky. – Black Onyx, making his stakes debut, ran himself right into the Kentucky Derby discussion Saturday when he drove to a 15-1 upset under Joe Bravo in the Grade 3, $550,000 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park.
ARCADIA, Calif. – The March 2 program at Santa Anita will rightfully be remembered for Game On Dude’s emphatic win in the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap. It turns out two maiden race winners on that day – the 3-year-olds Storm Fighter and Summer Exclusive – may be deserving of attention over time.
Storm Fighter, who won a race for California-breds over 1 1/16 miles in his third start, and Summer Exclusive, who won over 6 1/2 furlongs in his career debut that day, are being prepared for the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 6.
