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
Despite the fact Cornelio Velasquez is 3 for 3 aboard Vyjack, Joel Rosario will ride the 3-year-old in the Grade 3, $400,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on March 2, trainer Rudy Rodriguez confirmed Thursday.
Rodriguez said owner David Wilkenfeld wanted to make the change to Rosario, who is the leading rider at the Gulfstream Park meeting. Rosario gives up the ride on Called to Serve in the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap to ride Vyjack.
“The owner wanted to make a change. That’s his call, it’s his horse,” Rodriguez said.
Trainer Bob Baffert doubled down on Saturday’s 32nd running of the Grade 3, $200,000 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields.
Baffert had indicated early in the week that he would ship Carving north to run in the race, which awards 10 points to the winner in the new eligibility system for the Kentucky Derby. When Wednesday’s draw was held, he also entered Manando, who was made the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the field of nine.
[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Mark Casse reported that his top 3-year-old prospect, the multiple graded stakes winner Uncaptured, worked three furlongs in 35.60 seconds and galloped out a half-mile in 48.60 in Ocala on Wednesday. It was his first work since closing out his juvenile campaign with a neck decision over Frac Daddy in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs.
[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]
On Dec. 31, Verrazano was an unstarted maiden. A little more than six weeks later, following two impressive victories at Gulfstream Park, he was the shortest-priced individual entry in Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager.
His popularity, though, extends well beyond the bounds of Derby bettors.
Each year, when January slides into February and the snow begins to thaw (or not), anyone with a blog, a microphone, or an old-fashioned byline is required by cultural tradition to step forward with their list of Kentucky Derby prospects.
Trainer Al Stall Jr. has confirmed both of his lightly raced 3-year-olds, Departing and Sunbean, for the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 23 at Fair Grounds.
“We need to see whether they fit,” Stall said this week from the New Orleans track. “Obviously, this will be a big test for both of them.”
Departing, bred and owned in partnership by Claiborne Farm, is an unbeaten son of War Front. He won a maiden sprint in December and an allowance route Feb. 1, both with ease and both over the Fair Grounds main track.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Goldencents worked six furlongs in 1:13.40 at Santa Anita on Wednesday, and trainer Doug O’Neill was not the only interested party in how the highly promising colt handled the exercise.
Jockey Kevin Krigger watched exercise rider Jonny Garcia work Goldencents and then headed back to O’Neill’s barn to check on his leading 3-year-old. Krigger then took a hands-on approach.
“You know it’s a big deal when your jockey hot walks him for 10 minutes,” O’Neill said.
Demonic, winner of a seven-furlong maiden race in his debut Jan. 13, is unlikely to start in Sunday’s $150,000 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds over seven furlongs, trainer John Sadler said Tuesday.
Sadler is leaning toward running Demonic in the $300,000 San Felipe Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on March 9. The Grade 2 San Felipe is a key prep for the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby over 1 1/8 miles on April 6.
“I’m leaning toward the two turns,” Sadler said.
Owned by Lee and Susan Searing, Demonic worked six furlongs in 1:13 at Santa Anita on Monday.
