OLDSMAR, Fla. – Mandy Pope counts herself as a Derby dreamer, but she refuses to take it to the extreme.
“It’s very exciting to get caught up in thinking ahead to the Kentucky Derby,” Pope said this week by phone from her Ocala base, “but if I don’t have any horses in the Derby, I’m fine with that. I want to do what’s best for developing the horse in the long run.”
ARCADIA, Calif. – The brilliant and unseasoned Arabian Knight, who went 19 days without a workout during the Santa Anita wet-weather track closures, is back on the tab. An early favorite for the Kentucky Derby after runaway wins in a maiden sprint at Keeneland and Grade 3 Southwest at Oaklawn Park in January, Arabian Knight worked five furlongs Saturday in 59.20.
Arabian Knight is owned by Amr Zedan, whose racing manager is noted California clocker Gary Young. The Santa Anita work was the day’s third-fastest at five furlongs.
$147,500 John Battaglia Memorial, Turfway Park, March 4, 2023
(20 qualifying points for first, 8 for second, 6 for third, 4 for fourth, and 2 for fifth)
Winner: Congruent, by Tapit
Trainer: Antonio Sano
Jockey: Sonny Leon
Owner: Tami Bobo and Lugamo Racing Stable
Distance, time: 1 1/16 miles, 1:43.02 (Tapeta)
Win margin: 3 1/2 lengths
Beyer: 91
$402,000 Gotham; Aqueduct; March 4, 2023
(50 qualifying points for first, 20 for second, 15 for third, 10 for fourth, and 5 for fifth)
Winner: Raise Cain, by Violence
Trainer: Ben Colebrook
Jockey: Jose Lezcano
Owner: Andrew Warren and Rania Warren
Distance/time: 1 mile / 1:38.09 (muddy, sealed)
Win margin: 7 1/2 lengths
Beyer: 90
$402,000 San Felipe, March 4, 2023
(50 qualifying points for first, 20 for second, 15 for third, 10 for fourth, and 5 for fifth)
Winner: Practical Move, by Practical Joke
Trainer: Tim Yakteen
Jockey: Ramon Vazquez
Owner: Leslie Amestoy, Pierre Amestoy, Roger Beasley
Distance / time: 1 1/16 miles / 1:42.01
Win margin: 2 1/2 lengths
Beyer: 100
$400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes, March 4, 2023
(50 qualifying points for first, 20 for second, 15 for third, 10 for fourth, and 5 for fifth)
Winner: Forte, by Violence
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr
Owner: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable
Distance / time: 1 1/16 miles / 1:43.12
Win margin: 4 1/2 lengths
Beyer: 98
ARCADIA, Calif. – Practical Move earned a triple-digit Beyer in scoring a decisive victory in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita and emerging as a serious contender for the Kentucky Derby, while two-three finishers Geaux Rocket Ride and Skinner ran well enough to earn a start in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 8.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Ben Colebrook gave jockey Jose Lezcano a leg up on Raise Cain in the Aqueduct paddock, made a quick pitstop in the film theater and then jumped into an Uber headed to John F. Kennedy Airport before the horses went to post for Saturday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes. After all, whatever was to happen in the race was now out of his control and he needed to be at Turfway Park Saturday night to saddle Scoobie Quando in the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Aside from a few anxious moments, perhaps, in the run down the backstretch, the $400,000 Fountain of Youth played out about as perfectly as trainer Todd Pletcher could have hoped for his leading Kentucky Derby candidate Forte.
The reigning juvenile champion rallying to a one-sided and very easy 4 1/2-length victory over Holy Bull winner Rocket Can in his first start since capturing the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile four months earlier.
