Earning a triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure in a February prep race at one mile is a far cry from running competitively over 10 furlongs on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs, but it’s nothing to sneeze at, either.
While Bob Baffert deservedly received most of the accolades for sweeping both divisions of the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn on Feb. 20, another colt, an “Under the Radar” runner, made a nice impression in his own right.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Mark Casse hopes talent trumps experience when it comes to running Stealcase in Saturday’s Grade 3, $400,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct.
Stealcase will enter Saturday’s Gotham with only a maiden win from three starts on his r é sum é , but Casse said the son of Lawyer Ron was his top-rated 2-year-old of 2011, a year in which he won 31 races with juveniles.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla.- Union Rags stood in his paddock located behind the barn area at Palm Meadows training center early Monday morning vigorously attacking a flake of hay while his trainer, Michael Matz, looked on. It may be one of the last peaceful moments the pair will get to spend between now and Kentucky Derby day.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Michael Matz has said all along that he was using Sunday’s Grade 2 Fountain of Youth as a prep for Union Rags, just the first step on the road to having him ready to peak on Kentucky Derby Day. And in light of his performance in his 3-year-old debut, one can only imagine what Union Rags might be ready to accomplish when he’s completely fit and at his best.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Todd Pletcher said it will probably be several days before he knows exactly where he stands with Algorithms, who was scratched from Sunday’s Grade 2 Fountain of Youth due to a splint injury on his right front leg.
Pletcher said he discovered the injury Saturday, but didn’t know until Sunday morning the severity of the problem.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Algorithms has been scratched from Sunday’s Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes after popping a splint, according to owner Jack Wolf. Algorithms was the morning-line favorite and one of two horses trainer Todd Pletcher had entered in the race along with Discreet Dancer.
“It’s nothing serious, but Todd just doesn't feel comfortable running him today,” said Wolf, principal partner in Starlight Racing.
Isn’t He Clever rolled out new tactics Saturday for the $150,000 Borderland Derby at Sunland Park, and after rallying for a 1 3/4-length win over favorite Zackn’mat, his connections said he would target next month’s Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby. Major Hope finished third in the Borderland Derby, 10 lengths behind Zackn’mat.
NEW ORLEANS – El Padrino has been described as extremely laid-back by his trainer, Todd Pletcher, but he showed Saturday in the Grade 2, $300,000 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds that he can be a street fighter, too.
El Padrino outdueled Mark Valeski by a nose following a furious stretch drive, then had to survive a claim of foul by Rosie Napravnik, the rider of Mark Valeski, before being declared the official winner of this prep for the Louisiana Derby on April 1.
On a February weekend unusually chock full of appearances by 2011 Eclipse Award winners and contenders – Amazombie, Awesome Maria, Perfect Shirl, Royal Delta, and The Factor are all making their 2012 debuts – the unveiling of greatest interest will come Sunday when Union Rags makes his first start as a 3-year-old in the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park.
