OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Dominick Schettino already has one horse on the Triple Crown trail in Always in a Tiz, who finished a credible third in Monday’s Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

Schettino hopes to get a second horse on the road to the Kentucky Derby when he sends out Escapefromreality in next Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct. The Withers, a two-turn race run at 1 1/16 miles over the inner track, offers 17 qualifying points (10-4-2-1 to the top four finishers) for the May 4 Kentucky Derby.

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. – Pataky Kid, winner of the Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Futurity at 2, will launch his 3-year-old campaign next Saturday in the Grade 2 Hutcheson, trainer Tom Proctor confirmed Thursday.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Can anyone beat the champ?

That’s the question that will be on everybody’s mind when the recently elected 2-year-old champion Shanghai Bobby launches his 3-year-old campaign against nine rivals in Saturday’s $400,000 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park.

Flashback, a sharp maiden race winner in his 2-year-old debut at Hollywood Park on Dec. 8, worked five furlongs in 58.60 seconds Wednesday.

Trainer Bob Baffert said that Flashback is expected to make his next start in the $200,000 Robert Lewis Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 2.

In Wednesday’s workout, Flashback worked in company with a stablemate, starting about two lengths behind. He moved alongside with a wide move on the turn and finished slightly in front under jockey Martin Garcia.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The imposing presence of the undefeated and recently elected 2-year-old champion Shanghai Bobby failed to scare off the opposition for Saturday’s $400,000 Holy Bull, the first of three major Kentucky Derby preps to be run here this meet. Nine other 3-year-olds entered the Grade 3 race, with the somewhat larger-than-expected field potentially posing the biggest obstacle to the champ’s success, considering the short run to the first turn in 1 1/16-mile races at Gulfstream Park.

Early nominations for the three races of the 2013 Triple Crown are due by the close of Saturday, the three tracks hosting the races said on Wednesday.

Early nominations cost $600 and make the nominated horse eligible to start in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. Mailed nominations must be postmarked with a Jan. 26 date to be accepted. Nominations can also be made online at wwww.thetriplecrown.com or via telephone with a designated representative of the three tracks prior to 11:59 p.m. on Saturday.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Clawback, the authoritative winner of Monday’s Jimmy Winkfield Stakes for 3-year-old sprinters at Aqueduct, will be given the opportunity to stretch out in distance for his next start, trainer Rick Violette said Wednesday.

Though Violette had yet to pick out a spot for Clawback’s two-turn debut, he believes the horse has shown him enough to take a shot in a distance race in hopes of joining the Triple Crown trail. Clawback, a son of Put It Back, has yet to run beyond 6 1/2 furlongs in four career starts.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Always in a Tiz, who came charging for third in Monday’s $150,000 Smarty Jones at Oaklawn, was back at his Gulfstream Park base Wednesday with plans for his next start to be determined, said his trainer, Dominick Schettino.

Always in a Tiz was the favorite in Monday’s Smarty Jones off a second-place finish to eventual Grade 2 Jerome winner Vyjack in an Aqueduct overnight stakes Dec.  9. He rallied for third, beaten a neck by winner Will Take Charge, in his Oaklawn debut. Always in a Tiz earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 85.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Oxbow and Will Take Charge have put their Hall of Fame trainer, D. Wayne Lukas, front and center on the Kentucky Derby trail after a holiday weekend in which they won 3-year-old preps at two different tracks. Oxbow romped by 11 lengths in the Grade 3, $200,000 Lecomte at Fair Grounds on Saturday, while Will Take Charge fought for a neck win in the $150,000 Smarty Jones at Oaklawn on Monday.