March 28 Update

Jump to Comments

#1 PYRO - Obvious early favorite for the Blue Grass Stakes worked 5f in 1:02² March 24 breezing over Keeneland’s main Polytrack and galloped out 6f in 1:15². The work’s time ranked 15th out of 18 but this is of no real concern. The colt is in such good form there really is no need to ask him to do much in the morning. NEXT START - Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) on April 12 at Keeneland.

 #2 EL GATO MALO - Worked at Hollywood Park on March 22 going 7 furlongs in 1:24.³ handily. It was the only workout at the distance. “He went real nice, and I had him galloping out a mile in 1:37 and change,” trainer Craig Dollase said. “He worked real well. He came back great and got a lot out of the work.” NEXT START - Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 5 at Santa Anita.

 #3 COOL COAL MAN - On March 24 he worked 4f in :48⁴ at Palm Meadows and the work was labeled ‘handily’. Two things raise a question here. #1 why was there 10 days in between works and #2 if he went :48⁴ handily it means they asked him for something in the work and he did not respond with a fast time at all (even as training track times go). As a 2yo he ran 2 big races as a winner and then bounced when raised in class to the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club which turned out to be a somewhat unimpressive race considering what the top runners in that race went on to do in their careers since then. Now he is coming off of 2 big wins again and appears to be not doing very well. NEXT START - Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) on April 12 at Keeneland. 

#4 DENIS OF CORK - On March 22 he worked 5 Furlongs at the Fair Grounds in 1:00⁴ breezing which was ranked 2 of 17. This move was a near perfect 6 days after his previous work. He will get a 9 furlong test next which he needs because as of yet he has not raced beyond 1 mile ⁴⁰ yards. Should be ready to fire his best once again in the Wood Memorial. NEXT START - Illinois Derby (G2) on April 5 at Hawthorne.

#6 WAR PASS - Worked a bullet 4f in :47² on March 27 at Palm Meadows Training Center so perhaps he just didn’t care for the track at Tampa. It’s a quirky track and some horses just can get traction there. Trainer Nick Zito said “He worked fabulous, unbelievable. If you keep making excuses, then you know you’re up against something. But I’ve got to throw that race out. I’ve got to give him another shot. My son Alex said, ‘Hey, Dad, let me ask you a question. What was the fluke — the five in a row or the other one?’”. He’s set to go in the Wood Memorial (G1) April 5 at Aqueduct and might just get a pace advantage in that race. War Pass is very hard to get by when he is on the lead. NEXT START - Wood Memorial (G1) April 5.

#15 FIERCE WIND - Drilled a ‘bullet’ 4f in 46⁴ over the training track at Palm Meadows and seems to be ready to fire his best shot in the Florida Derby Saturday March 29. The worked ranked the best of 13 for the morning which is impressive considering there was some real nice horses that worked 4f. NEXT START - Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 29.

 

0 Comments

Filed under Kentucky Derby