Lost in the shadow of leading Kentucky Derby contender Verrazano’s popular triumph in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby was the breakout performance from runner-up Java’s War, an early-May foal who could prove a late-bloomer on the Kentucky Derby trail. To be sure, Java’s War faced several obstacles in the Tampa Bay Derby. Not only did he challenge the imposing Verrazano, but he was asked to travel 1 1/16 miles in his first race following a 3 1/2-month layoff and was compromised by a poor start that left him far behind the field entering the first turn.
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ARCADIA, Calif. – While Verrazano on Saturday was reconfirming his position as the ante-post favorite for the May 4 Kentucky Derby with his easy victory in the Tampa Bay Derby, the depth chart on the West Coast took on a new look as Hear the Ghost upset the previously unbeaten Flashback and highly regarded Goldencents in the San Felipe Stakes here at Santa Anita.
Verrazano, who ran his unbeaten record to three in the Tampa Bay Derby and remains the favorite for the May 4 Kentucky Derby, is being pointed to the Wood Memorial on April 6 at Aqueduct for his final Derby prep, trainer Todd Pletcher said Monday morning.
[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]
Ive Struck a Nerve, the 135-1 winner of the Risen Star Stakes last month at Fair Grounds, was scheduled to undergo surgery Monday at the Rood and Riddle equine hospital in Lexington, Ky., after suffering a fractured sesamoid in his left front ankle during a Saturday morning workout at the New Orleans track. The colt is expected to be sidelined for perhaps six months and will miss the Triple Crown series.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Despite winning three graded stakes and four races overall on Saturday, trainer Todd Pletcher is not about to rest on his laurels. In fact Pletcher barely got any rest at all, sending out his first set of workers including Florida Derby candidate Shanghai Bobby well before dawn Sunday morning at Palm Meadows after returning home from Tampa late the previous evening following Verrazano’s impressive victory in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Hear the Ghost, who successfully stretched out around two turns when winning the Grade 2, $300,000 San Felipe Stakes on Saturday here at Santa Anita, came out of the race in good condition and is likely to make his next start in the Grade 1, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 6, his trainer and co-owner, Jerry Hollendorfer, said Sunday morning.
[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]
OLDSMAR, Fla. – The margin was only three lengths. As if that matters.
Verrazano overcame adversity Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs, where the unbeaten colt affirmed his status as a leading Kentucky Derby contender with a solid, three-length victory in the Grade 2, 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay Derby.
Verrazano solidified his position as the likely favorite for the Kentucky Derby with a convincing 3 ½-length victory over the slow-breaking Java’s War in Saturday’s $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby. Falling Sky, who contested the early pace, finished a tiring and well-beaten third.
Verrazano, a son of More than Ready owned by the partnership of Lets Go Stable and Coolmore, earned 50 qualifying points for his third convincing win in as many starts. The 50 points figure to be enough to clinch his spot in this year’s Derby field.
NEW ORLEANS – Ive Struck a Nerve, the 135-1 winner of the Risen Star Stakes last month at Fair Grounds, suffered an ankle injury in a Saturday morning workout and will miss the Triple Crown series, trainer Keith Desormeaux said.
“It’s very disappointing,” said Desormeaux. “It doesn’t look like it’s career-threatening and he’s not in peril. It’s the kind of injury that happens quite a bit in this game. The good news is we know we still have a nice horse.”