Trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. said he is likely to ship a graded stakes winner to Aqueduct Racetrack for the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham on March 6, which offers 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers.
The South Florida-based conditioner will likely send either Drain the Clock or Super Strong for the historic one-turn mile event and could reach a verdict following their next breezes this weekend.
Owned by Nick Cosato's Slam Dunk Racing, Madaket Stable, Wonder Stable and Michael Nentwig, Drain the Clock was an open-lengths winner of his last two starts, both of which were stakes at Gulfstream Park. After making his seasonal bow with a 7 ½-length romp in the Limehouse on Jan. 2, he scored in his graded stakes debut in the Grade 3 Swale on January 30 at seven furlongs. The son of Maclean's Music sat off the flank of pacesetter Poppy's Pride from the two path and took command at the far turn, powering home a 6 ¼-length winner.
Joseph, Jr. said that either the Gotham or the Grade 2, $300,000 Fountain of Youth on Feb. 27 at Gulfstream Park are in play for Drain the Clock.
“We'll work him Sunday and get a better idea from there. Right now, it's still undecided,” Joseph, Jr. said.
Sonata Stable's Super Strong became a Group 1 winner on debut in the Classico Agustin Mercado Revron at Camarero in Puerto Rico.
The son of 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver will work on Saturday morning and could target either the Gotham or the Grade 2, $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby on March 6 at Tampa Bay Downs.
Owned by Sonata Stable, Super Strong was a 2 ½ length winner of his career debut contested over sloppy conditions under jockey Juan Diaz. His most recent breeze was a sharp five-furlong move in 59.60 seconds over the Palm Meadows Training Track on Feb. 13.
“The jockey that rode him that day has rode a lot of good horses and said that he needed a chance in the states,” said Joseph, Jr. “I really liked his last work. He did everything right and he galloped out really well. The real test will be how he runs next.”
The post Joseph To Send Either Drain The Clock, Super Strong For 50-Point Gotham appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
