Derby Updates

EAST/BLUEGRASS CAT HEADS STRONG FIELD IN TAMPA’S DAVIS - The Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs has only rarely been a point of focus on the road to the Kentucky Derby (Grade I), but increase in its purse to $125,000-guaranteed, no opportunities to race at Gulfstream Park at its 1 1/16-mile distance, and a strong placement on the calendar of preps leading up to the “Run for the Roses,” the times have indeed changed for the race.

An accomplished field of 12 3-year-olds, headed by WinStar Farm’s Remsen (GII) winner Bluegrass Cat, has been entered for this year’s renewal. It will mark the first since of the year for the impressive son of Storm Cat, who appears to be one of the strongest members of trainer Todd Pletcher’s large cast of Triple Crown contenders. The 2-1 morning line favorite has a three race winning streak that includes a victory in the Nashua (GIII) at Belmont prior to his November win in the Remsen at Aqueduct.

Two-time Kentucky Derby winner Nick Zito will look to knock off the favorite as he saddles a pair of hopefuls in Live Oak Plantation’s Hesanoldsalt and Bob LaPenta’s Little Cliff. A homebred son of Broad Brush, Hesanoldsalt won a 1 1/8-mile allowance last out at Gulfstream on Jan. 15 and is the second choice in the morning line at 4-1. Little Cliff, a son of Gulch and a two-time winner last fall in Kentucky, ran a disappointing eighth in his 3-year-old debut in the Aventura at Gulfstream. He is the co-fifth choice at 8-1.

Other stakes winners in the race include Alfred Kowalewski’s local star R Loyal Man (5-1), winner of Tampa’s Inaugural and Pasco Stakes; Will Farish’s Seaside Retreat (6-1), winner of the Display Stakes at Woodbine; Ralph Cessa’s Blazing Rate (20-1), winner of the Foolish Pleasure and the $400,000 In Reality in Calder’s Florida Stallion Stakes series; Hidden Creek Farm’s Storm Cat winner Pegasusbystorm (20-1); and Padua Stables’ Jack Price Juvenile winner Electrify (10-1).

Audible Keeps Achilles of Troy in New York - Following a romp in last week’s Whirlaway Stakes at Aqueduct, Paraneck Stable owner Ernie Paragallo announced plans to ship Achilles of Troy to Florida with an eye toward running in the Fountain of Youth (GII) on March 4 at Gulfstream Park - but Paragallo has now decided to keep his star at home.

The colorful owner has called an audible that will keep the gray son of Notebook at home for the New York series of Kentucky Derby preps. Paragello told the Daily Racing Form that he could not find a flight to Florida until the day before the Fountain of Youth, and he thought it risky to acclimate the colt to the warm Florida weather too far in advance of the race.

The Whirlaway win by Achilles of Troy came on the heels of a dominating 14-length victory in the Count Fleet at Aqueduct on Jan. He will attempt to sweep the series of New York Derby preps with planned starts in the Gotham (GIII) on March 18, followed by the $750,000 Wood Memorial (GI) on April 8.

Paragallo’s decision means that stablemate Scanlon’s Song will be the horse on the move. The son of Partner’s Hero, who scored an impressive victory in his only career start at Aqueduct on Jan. 28, is now expected to ship to Northern Kentucky’s Turfway Park for the John Battaglia Memorial on March 4 and the Lane’s End (GII) Stakes on March 25.

Jennifer Pedersen trains both Achilles of Troy and Scanlon’s Song.

Great Point Puts in Impressive Work Toward Fountain of Youth - Holy Bull (GIII) runner-up Great Point fired a sizzling bullet work on Friday in preparation for his next start in the Fountain of Youth (GII) at Gulfstream on March 4. Robert LaPenta’s chestnut son of Point Given worked a half mile in :46.20 for trainer Nick Zito at Gulfstream Park - a move that was easily the fastest of 21 moves at the distance. Stablemate Superfly, fifth in last year’s Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) and runner-up in a recent Gulfstream allowance, worked a full second slower, but still turned in the day’s second fastest move at the distance.

MIDWEST/LAWYER RON HEADS SOUTHWEST - Oaklawn Park will celebrate President’s Day on Monday with a renewal of the Southwest Stakes that bids to be one of the strongest in the history of the race.

James Hines, Jr.’s Lawyer Ron, who protected an unbeaten record on the dirt with a romp in the Risen Star (GIII) at the Fair Grounds at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs meet, looms as the strong favorite in Monday’s one-mile race. The son of Langfuhr is four-for-four on the main track after he launched launched his career for trainer Robert Holthus with with seven races - and losses - on the turf. Regular jockey John McKee will ride for Holthus, who will also saddle Thomas Franks’ Ellis Park Juvenile winner Red Raymond in the Southwest. The one-mile event received a purse increase of $150,000 this year and will serve as a local prep for the $300,000 Rebel (GIII) on March 18 and Oaklawn’s signature Kentucky Derby sendoff, the Arkansas Derby (GII) on April 15.

Other likely starters include recent allowance winner and likely second choice Steppenwolfer, a recent Oaklawn allowance winner for trainer Dan Peitz; Mark of Success and Hyte Regency, the 2-3 finishers in the Risen Star; Travelin’ Leroy; and Celluloid Hero.

Fidyrich - trained by John Servis, the conditioner of 2004 Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones - is listed as “possible.” Definitely out of the Southwest is Darley Stable’s impressive allowance winner Barbican. Trainer Eoin Harty said a minor throat ailment will keep his son of A.P. Indy in Florida.

Well Said Makes Clear Statement in Oaklawn Allowance - While fellow 3-year-olds Brilliant and Jolted and Jostled were getting all the headlines coming into a Thursday allowance at Oaklawn Park, Hargus Sexton’s Well Said hovered below the radar before he stole the show.

The Walter Bindner-trained son of Aptitude lacked running room along the rail, but swung three-wide to overtake the Neil Howard-trained Brilliant and pull away to a clear 1 ¾-length victory. Well Said had defeated Brilliant by a half-length to notch his first win in his previous start on Jan. 8 at Louisiana Downs.

Twelve Entered in Sam Houston’s Jim’s Orbit Stakes - Will Farish’s coupled entry of Upstream and Tweed Suit is the 5-2 favorite in Saturday’s $125,000 Jim’s Orbit Stakes at Sam Houston Park. None of the 12 starters restricted to Texas-bred 3-year-olds is an early nominee to the Kentucky Derby.

Prince Stakes Features Ten Louisiana-Breds - Heiligbrodt Racing Stable’s Here Tiger has been installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite in the field of ten Louisiana-breds in Saturday’s $100,000 Prince Stakes at Evangeline Downs. There are no Kentucky Derby nominees among the entrants for the Prince.

WEST/SHIRREFFS GETS NEW DERBY CONTENDER IN A.P. WARRIOR - Trainer John Shirreffs, who won the Kentucky Derby in his first attempt when he saddled longshot Giacomo to win the 2005 “Run for the Roses,” added a major contender to the 2006 Derby to his barn on Wednesday when the highly regarded A.P. Warrior was transferred to his care.

The son of A.P. Indy - a $1.3 million yearling purchase by owner Stan Fulton - had previously been trained Eoin Harty. He displayed promise at two with a runner-up finish behind behind Brother Derek in the Norfolk (GII) and a strong October allowance score over eventual Sham Stakes winner Bob and John. But his last two races - fourth-place efforts in the Hollywood Futurity (GI) and El Camino Real Derby (GIII) - were disappointing.

Shirreffs now has five 3-year-olds nominated to the Kentucky Derby: A.P. Arrow, Behoogie, Bronzino, Mr. Big, Neko Bay, and impressive maiden winner Tatsuji (IRE) - under his shedrow. Bronzino and Tatsuji are both owned by Jerry and Ann Moss, who campaign Giacomo. Harty’s remaining Triple Crown nominees are Barbican and Barcola.

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