What should one look for in an “Under the Radar” 3-year-old?
The blossoming colt must be underrated.
He must have shown potential at some point during his young career, preferably in a two-turn route race.
And, he must have a pedigree that is geared toward the demanding 1 1/4 miles of the Kentucky Derby.
Using those criteria, Shackleford looks like a no-brainer for our growing list of Radar Runners.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Clubhouse Ride, among the top 3-year-olds in California, is off the Kentucky Derby trail, trainer Craig Lewis announced Monday morning at Santa Anita.
Lewis said Clubhouse Ride, a son of Candy Ride, has a hairline fracture of his right ankle that will require 45 days off.
"It's miniscule and he will recover," Lewis said. "That's the good news. The disappointment is I believe he is a true mile-and-a-quarter horse."
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Chad Brown said he has sent Tiz Blessed, who closed at odds of 79-1 on Sunday in the first Kentucky Derby Future wager, to Kentucky to be examined by Dr. Larry Bramlage in an attempt to discover what has been keeping the stakes-winning 3-year-old from a regular training schedule this winter.
Tiz Blessed won two of his three starts at 2, including Woodbine’s Display by 5 1/2 widening lengths. A son of Tiznow owned by Gary and Mary West, Tiz Blessed has worked six times at the Palm Meadows training center this winter but only once since Jan. 24.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – One horse who will be conspicuous by his absence when entries are drawn here Wednesday for Saturday’s Grade 2 Fountain of Youth is Dialed In. Trainer Nick Zito said he and owner Bob LaPenta both agreed that passing the race is in the best interest of their colt in light of his huge performance winning the Grade 3 Holy Bull in only his second career start here last month.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Even though trainer Bob Baffert puts The Factor on the same plane as champion Uncle Mo when it comes to raw talent, he and co-owner George Bolton are being realistic about how to proceed with The Factor, desirous of giving him a chance to go two turns, but sensitive to not ruin him on a difficult, perhaps quixotic, quest to make the Kentucky Derby.
ARCADIA, Calif. -- The Factor, stamping himself as one of the fastest 3-year-olds in training, rocketed to the front and never looked back when capturing the Grade 2, $150,000 San Vicente Stakes over seven furlongs on Sunday at Santa Anita.
Over a track that promoted front-runners all day, The Factor was hustled to the front by jockey Martin Garcia, who was following the instructions of trainer Bob Baffert.
The Factor, making his first start since his sensational maiden win on opening day of Santa Anita’s meet nearly two months ago, used his speed to run away from the competition in Sunday’s Grade 2, $150,000 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – For the 13th time in as many years, the mutuel field is the favorite in Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which closed Sunday at 6 p.m. Eastern following a three-day betting window that attracted a substantial increase in handle over recent years.
NEW ORLEANS – Sometimes fast horses run better in longer races. Mucho Macho Man is a fast horse, no doubt. In his career debut he ran an opening quarter-mile in 21 seconds and change. But Mucho Macho Man, at this point, appears to be no sprinter. Stretched back out to two turns Saturday in the Grade 2, $300,000 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds, Mucho Macho Man won for the second time in his career, beating Santiva by 1 1/2 lengths.
