Zozos, an impressive Oaklawn Park allowance-race winner, will start March 26 in the $1 million Louisiana Derby. And Cyberknife, an impressive Fair Grounds allowance winner, will start April 2 in the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby.
Trainer Brad Cox hinted last week that would be his plan with these two Triple Crown hopefuls, and after both colts turned in Fair Grounds works over the weekend, Cox confirmed it Sunday.
Epicenter, after winning the Feb. 19 Risen Star Stakes by nearly three lengths over highly regarded Smile Happy and posting a 98 Beyer Speed Figure – among the best in his class – rose toward the top of most Kentucky Derby lists. His closing odds in Pool 4 of the Derby Future Wager, which closed March 13, were 13-1.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Saffie Joseph Jr. sent out Holy Bull winner White Abarrio to work here Sunday. White Abarrio went a strong five furlongs in 59.50, going easily throughout, before galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.42. White Abarrio will be among the favorites in what is shaping up to be an outstanding renewal of the $1 million Florida Derby on April 2.
White Abarrio is going directly from the Holy Bull to the Florida Derby.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Morello, the undefeated winner of the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes on March 5, returned to the work tab Monday morning at Belmont Park, cruising an easy half-mile in 52.55 seconds over the training track. Morello is preparing for a start in the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial on April 9 at Aqueduct.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A mere three weeks between races has become something of a rarity for a Kentucky Derby prospect, but trainer Kenny McPeek intends to forge ahead with his revised plan anyway.
It wasn’t long after Rattle N Roll finished sixth in his 3-year-old debut, the March 5 Fountain of Youth here at Gulfstream Park, that McPeek said the colt will wheel back in three weeks in the Louisiana Derby on March 26 at Fair Grounds.
OLDSMAR, Fla. – Brian Lynch was in his usual good mood Monday morning, and why wouldn’t he be? The trainer had heard all the talk about Classic Causeway not being fast enough, even after the colt’s victory on Saturday in the Tampa Bay Derby, and decided to wave it off.
“I’ve never done this,” Lynch said about having a serious Kentucky Derby prospect so late in the game, “and I’m going to keep enjoying it.”
The mutuel field, the 24th or “all others” option, is a lukewarm favorite in the fourth of five pools in the 2022 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which closed Sunday evening along with the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager following the customary three-day run.
The field closed at 4-1 and was followed by Smile Happy at 6-1, the lowest price on any of the 23 individual interests. The field also was favored in the first three pools when offered Nov. 26-29, Jan. 21-23, and Feb. 11-13, respectively, closing at odds of 3-5, 9-5, and 2-1.
Grade 2, $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby, 1 1/16 miles, Tampa Bay Downs, March 12, 2022
(50 Derby qualifying points for first, 20 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth)
Winner: Classic Causeway, by Giant’s Causeway
Trainer: Brian Lynch
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Owner: Kentucky West Racing and Clarke Cooper
Beyer Speed Figure: 84
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Secret Oath has emerged as the dominant 3-year-old of the Oaklawn Park meet, and Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Saturday the filly will get a shot against male rivals in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Arkansas Derby on April 2.
“We’re going to lead her over there,” he said.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Chad Brown has tweaked his plans for some of his bounty of stakes horses, including his 3-year-olds who are or were pointing to Kentucky Derby points-scoring races.
Brown said Friday that he plans to scratch Money Supply from Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby. Brown said the combination of post 11 and an expected wet track given an ominous forecast are the reasons to scratch. In his only start, Money Supply won a six-furlong race at Tampa on Feb. 12.
