Stay Thirsty came out of his 3 1/4-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct in good order and is tentatively scheduled to return to south Florida on Tuesday for his next probable start in the $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on April 3, his connections said Sunday.
KENTUCKY DERBY NEWS: Track all the 3-year-olds on the Triple Crown trail
HOT SPRINGS, Ark.- Archarcharch was one of a handful of Rebel Stakes probables who hit the track for workouts on a chilly Sunday morning at Oaklawn Park. He breezed six furlongs in 1:13.40 in his first drill since winning the Grade 3, $250,000 Southwest Stakes on Feb. 21.
The Rebel, a Grade 2, $300,000 race on March 19, is a local stepping-stone to the Arkansas Derby.
KENTUCKY DERBY NEWS: Track all the 3-year-olds on the Triple Crown trail
Positive Response, a Northern California invader sent away the 2-1 choice, dominated from the outset while the rest of the favorites largely disappointed Saturday night in the $100,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park.
With Julien Couton riding for trainer Bill Morey, Positive Response seized the lead heading into the first turn of the 1 1/16-mile Polytrack race, then dictated the running before shaking off a pair of longshots turning for home and prevailing by seven lengths.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark.- Smoke It Right might get a shot at bigger prizes this meet at Oaklawn Park after remaining undefeated in four career starts in the $60,000 Mountain Valley for 3-year-olds. It was the second stakes win for the horse, whose connections will consider a start in the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 16.
KENTUCKY DERBY NEWS: Track all the 3-year-olds on the Triple Crown trail
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - While obviously happy to be his owner, Mike Repole was starting to get a little tired hearing and reading only about Uncle Mo. That’s because Repole is also the owner of Stay Thirsty, a 3-year-old he happens to be quite high on.
For one day at least, Stay Thirsty earned some headlines of his own with a 3 1/4-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct.
Turns out trainer Al Stall and owners Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider will have an undefeated 3-year-old in the Louisiana Derby after all. No, it’s not Bind, impressive winner of his career debut on Feb. 19. Stall said Saturday that Left, a two-turn allowance-race winner on Feb. 26 at Fair Grounds, was being pointed to the $1 million Louisiana Derby on March 26.
KENTUCKY DERBY NEWS: Track all the 3-year-olds on the Triple Crown trail
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – J P’s Gusto breezed six furlongs in 1:13.60 at Oaklawn Park on Saturday morning in preparation for the Grade 2, $300,000 Rebel Stakes on March 19. He is expected to be part of a large field for the 1 1/16-mile race, which is a stepping-stone in the Arkansas Derby.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Kentucky Derby prospects Mucho Macho Man and Rogue Romance, first and third finishers two weeks ago in the Grade 2 Risen Star, turned in easy workouts over their home base at Gulfstream Park on Saturday morning.
Mucho Macho Man looked very strong, cruising a half-mile in 48.58 seconds while going easily from start to finish. He galloped out five-eighths in 1:01.86.
Rogue Romance was also in hand breezing four furlongs in 48.78 and galloping out five furlongs in 1:01.90 for trainer Ken McPeek.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Dean Reeves, principal owner of Kentucky Derby hopeful Mucho Macho Man, presented injured jockey Eibar Coa a check for $18,000 Thursday night at Memorial East Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Fla. The sum is the equivalent to the winning rider’s share for Mucho Macho Man’s recent victory in the Grade 2 Risen Star at the Fair Grounds.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Albergatti will make his stakes debut in the $250,000 San Felipe Stakes over 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita next Saturday, a key prep to the $1 million Santa Anita Derby next month.
For Albergatti, who is trained by Steve Asmussen for Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Stable and Natrona Racing, the Grade 2 San Felipe will be the gray colt’s first start around two turns and first start against winners.
