HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The field for the $1 million Florida Derby is starting to grow.
On Saturday, trainer Ken McPeek added Frac Daddy’s name to the short list of 3-year-olds pointing for the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 30. He announced the decision after watching Frac Daddy work five furlongs in 1:00.82 in company with his 3-year-old filly stablemate Pure Fun, a Grade 1 winner.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Elnaawi, the third-place finisher in the Gotham on March 2, began working toward a start in the $1 million Wood Memorial on April 6 by breezing an easy half-mile in 50.01 seconds Saturday morning over the Belmont Park training track.
Elnaawi, a half-brother to Grade 1 winner To Honor and Serve, breezed in company with Navy Guard, a 3-year-old maiden who is a half-brother to 2008 juvenile champion Midshipman. Elnaawi worked in blinkers, equipment he has worn in all three of his starts.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Add the name War Academy to the Bob Baffert 3-year-old arsenal.
Making his first start around two turns in the third start of his career, War Academy ran down stablemate Manando to win a first-level allowance Friday at Santa Anita and keep his Kentucky Derby hopes alive.
Mike Smith rode War Academy ($3.80) to the 3 1/2-length victory in 1:43.42, after which Baffert said the son of Giant’s Causeway will jump into the deep end.
“I’m going to run him in a big prep,” Baffert said. “It’ll be 100 points, wherever it is.”
Channel Isle and Red Wings are both being pointed to stakes at Turfway on March 23, trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Friday. Channel Isle, an allowance winner at Oaklawn who was fourth in last month’s Grade 3, $300,000 Southwest, had been pointing to the Louisiana Derby, but Lukas said he will run instead in the Grade 3, $550,000 Spiral.
[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The aggressiveness that Vyjack displayed earlier in his career was not evident Friday morning at Aqueduct as the undefeated 3-year-old worked an easy half-mile over the inner track in preparation for the $1 million Wood Memorial on April 6.
Taking his cues from his trainer and exercise rider Rudy Rodriguez, Vyjack breezed four furlongs in 51.23 seconds over the inner track. He went his first quarter in 26.44 and his second quarter in 24.79 with Rodriguez not moving his hands on the gelding. Vyjack galloped out five furlongs in 1:03.69.
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
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Rydilluc breezed five furlongs in 1:02.02 inside the dogs over the Palm Meadows turf course on Thursday with regular rider Edgar Prado aboard. It was Rydilluc’s first breeze since his smashing 3 1/2-length victory over Charming Kitten in the Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes earlier this month. Rydilluc will make his next start at Keeneland in the Grade 1 Blue Grass on April 13.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – There is never a good time for a trainer to serve a suspension, but with a Kentucky Derby contender in his barn, the timing couldn’t be worse for Rudy Rodriguez.
Beginning Saturday, Rodriguez will be gone for 20 days after reaching an agreement with the New York Gaming Commission on a suspension for two positives accrued last year for flunixin, an anti-inflammatory sold under the name Banamine.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Super Ninety Nine has been unbeatable since moving to two turns, and his trainer, Bob Baffert, has been nearly as effective with his starters at Oaklawn Park. On Saturday, Super Ninety Nine will be heavily favored to give Baffert his fourth consecutive win in the Rebel.
OLDSMAR, Florida – A California horseplayer visiting Florida for the first time did not know what to expect pulling into the parking lot at Tampa Bay Downs last Saturday.
March 9 was the biggest day of the year at Tampa, and an outstanding card included the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby and unbeaten Verrazano. With two months until the Kentucky Derby, there is little margin for error.
But recent Tampa history is on Verrazano’s side.
Street Sense used Tampa to launch his 2007 Kentucky Derby campaign.
