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Wendell Fong Will Try To ‘Run The Show’ In Tom Fool

Gold Square's Wendell Fong will look to make the grade in Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap, a six-furlong sprint for older horses at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Tom Fool is part of a loaded Saturday card that includes the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham, a one-turn mile contest that provides 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top four finishers; the $250,000 Busher Invitational for 3-year-old fillies offering 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points; and the $125,000 Heavenly Prize Invitational, a one-turn mile for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up.

Wendell Fong provided trainer Natalia Lynch – previously an assistant and exercise rider for Jeremiah Englehart – her first career win last out with a neck score in the six-furlong Fire Plug on January 16 at Laurel Park.

“He's pretty special,” said Lynch, who went out on her own last year. “He has so much personality. It's his world and we live in it at the barn. He really runs the show.”

Lynch helped prepare the 5-year-old son of Flat Out, previously trained by Englehart, for a winning career debut in December 2018 at Laurel. She was also along for the journey with Wendell Fong through a win in the 2019 Gold Fever at Belmont in a campaign that ended with a prominent fifth in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens at Belmont and a tenth in the Grade 2 Amsterdam at Saratoga.

Winless in six starts last season, Wendell Fong made his seasonal debut a winning one in the Fire Plug. Due to COVID-19-related travel restrictions, Lynch had to send Wendell Fong to the care of trainer Brittany Russell, who Lynch had previously worked for in Maryland.

Lynch said Wendell Fong's successful return to stakes company was very rewarding.

“When he first came to me in the fall a lot of people wanted me to put him in for a tag, but I always felt we could get him back to where he deserved to be,” said Lynch. “It's been a lot of believing in him and letting him tell us what he needed. To see him win that stakes race was really special. He showed so much heart. He ran back to how he used to run and he knew he won. When he got home, he bounced off the trailer. He was really proud of himself.”

Following a brief freshening, Wendell Fong worked an easy half-mile in 50.50 seconds with Lynch up on February 26 on the Belmont dirt training track.

“He went to Patty Hogan's farm for a bit of a break. He went out and played in the field for a few weeks and was a horse,” said Lynch. “When he came back in it didn't look like he lost too much fitness running around the field. We gave him a nice little breeze and it felt like he handled it OK.

“I don't let anyone else sit on him. He's a handful,” added Lynch “He was with me for a lot of the time in Maryland at Laurel. He came there before his first race and ended up staying through to the Woody Stephens.”

Lynch said she has worked on having the strong-minded Wendell Fong return to a settle and pounce racing style. The dark bay posted a good runner-up effort from off the pace on December 3 under Trevor McCarthy on December 3 at Laurel ahead of the last-to-first score with Sheldon Russell up in the Fire Plug.

“In the Woody Stephens, they changed his running style a little bit and sent him straight to the lead,” said Lynch. “After that, he kept trying to go to the lead and we had to get him back in the habit of coming from off the pace.

“The race before last, Trevor did a good job of getting him to settle and make his one run and it paid off in the Fire Plug,” added Lynch. “Sheldon did the same thing last time and let him take a deep breath. He loves to stalk horses.”

Lynch said a good result on Saturday could set up a return to Grade 1 company for Wendell Fong in the $300,000 Carter Handicap, a seven-furlong sprint for older horses on April 3 at the Big A.

“I hope it sets up on Saturday the way we want. I really want to get him over the surface and see how he handles it,” said Lynch. “If he likes it and is doing OK, we can head to the Carter.”

McCarthy has the call on Wendell Fong from the outermost post 6.

Multiple graded stakes-winner Share the Ride, trained by Antonio Arriaga for owner Silvino Ramirez, captured the Grade 3 Fall Highweight in November at the Big A and added a score in the Grade 3 General George last out on February 20 at Laurel Park.

The 6-year-old Candy Ride gelding enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2020, posting a record of 4-2-1 from nine starts.

Share the Ride will emerge from post 2 under returning rider Victor Carrasco.

Karl Watson, Michael E. Pegram, and Paul Weitman's Speed Pass, a 5-year-old son of Bodemeister trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, will make his first start outside of California.

The lightly raced gelding earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure for a seven-length optional-claiming romp in December 2019 at Los Alamitos Race Course ahead of a third in the Grade 3 Palos Verdes in January 2020.

Speed Pass returned off an 11-month layoff last out to finish third in an optional-claiming sprint on January 30 at Santa Anita.

“He needed that race,” Baffert said. “This is going to be a step up. There was a race here at Santa Anita going seven furlongs, but I think six furlongs is going to be his limit. We'll take a swing at it and see how he fits in. Those New York horses are pretty tough.”

Manny Franco will guide Speed Pass from post 5.

Michael Dubb's Pete's Play Call was claimed for $62,500 out of a winning effort in an optional-claiming sprint in November and promptly won the Gravesend on January 2 at 6 1/2-furlongs over a muddy and sealed Aqueduct main track.

The 8-year-old Munnings chestnut followed that effort last out with a pacesetting second to American Power in the seven-furlong Grade 3 Toboggan on January 30 at the Big A.

Pete's Play Call will exit the inside post under Jorge Vargas, Jr. on the slight turnback in distance.

Dubb will also be represented by Chateau for trainer Rob Atras. The 6-year-old Flat Out gelding has hit the board in 23 of 32 starts, including six wins with purse earnings of $367,769.

The dark bay used his good early foot last out to notch a gate-to-wire score in a six furlong optional-claiming sprint on January 18 at the Big A that garnered a lofty 96 Beyer.

Kendrick Carmouche retains the mount from post 3.

Rounding out the field is M and A Racing's graded stakes winner Happy Farm, who steps up from a 1 3/4-length score last out when in for a $50,000 tag on February 6 at the Big A for trainer Linda Rice.

The 7-year-old Ghostzapper gelding won the 2019 Grade 3 Fall Highweight and was second in the Tom Fool last year to multiple Grade 1-winner Mind Control. The dark bay made his seasonal debut with a troubled fifth in the Gravesend.

Eric Cancel will pilot Happy Farm from post 4.

The Tom Fool is slated as Race 7 on Saturday's 10-race card. First post is 12:50 p.m. Eastern.

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Laobanonaprayer Chasing Oaks Points In Busher Invitational

Two-time stakes winner Laobanonaprayer has already proved she can win at a one-turn mile and will look to replicate that effort against the most talented field she's faced in her young career in Saturday's $250,000 Busher Invitational for sophomore fillies at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The 42nd running of the Busher, which offers 50-20-10-5 qualifying points to the top-four finishers towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on April 30 at Churchill Downs, is one of four stakes on a packed day at the Big A. The card is highlighted by the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham in a Kentucky Derby prep race and also includes the Grade 3, $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap for 4-years-olds and up and the $125,000 Heavenly Prize Invitational for fillies and mares 4-and-up.

Laobanonaprayer, owned and trained by Daniel Velazquez, has never finished off the board in her first five starts, compiling a 2-2-1 ledger with a field-high $252,400 in earnings. After a third-place debut effort in September at Delaware Park followed by a runner-up effort over the same track in October, the Laoban filly broke her maiden in impressive fashion with a 5 1/2-length score in the Maid of the Mist going one mile over Belmont Park's Big Sandy on October 24 in defeating fellow New York-breds.

She concluded her juvenile campaign with an eight-length win in the New York Stallion Stakes Series Fifth Avenue on December 6 before running second in the 6 ½-furlong Franklin Square in her 2021 debut finishing 1 ½ lengths behind Secret Love on January 16 at the Big A.

Velazquez noted that inclement weather at his Parx Racing training base had interrupted Laobanonaprayer's training schedule leading up to and following the Franklin Square.

The talented filly has recently posted a pair of sharp works, including a five-furlong effort in 1:01.61 on Saturday over the Parx main track in her final breeze before shipping to New York.

“She's been doing good and we've gotten the works that we've needed,” Velazquez said. “We're excited to see open company and the level change. I think this race sets up perfect. I know that I hit every work that I needed to hit. Now, it's just a matter of her having the talent and ability and a getting a good trip to get the win.”

Velazquez said he's been impressed with her improvement overall since starting her career in September.

“She's calmed down a lot,” Velazquez said. “She was a bit of a hyper filly, and she still is, but that edge is there for racing, she's just getting a little more mature. She's always been a big filly and she's gotten a little wider and a little stronger.”

Meet-leading rider Kendrick Carmouche will be the irons from post 2.
Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown will seek his first career win in the Busher, sending out a pair of formidable contenders in Klaravich Stables' Search Results and Louis Lazzinnaro's The Grass Is Blue.

Search Results, unraced as a juvenile, won her first race with an impressive four-length score on January 3 at Gulfstream Park. The Flatter filly was a $310,000 purchase at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and will be well-rested entering her second career start after training at Payson Park in Indiantown, Florida. Hall of Famer Javier Castellano will pick up the mount from post 3.

“We gave her some time since that race to recover and get in a good rhythm with her works,” Brown said. “She seems ready to run again now.”

The Grass Is Blue added blinkers last out for a winning effort at Aqueduct, besting Coffee Bar by one length to win the 1 1/8-mile Busanda on January 24. That victory netted the Broken Vow filly 10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points, placing her 14th on the current leaderboard, and marked her third win overall in five starts.

After running sixth in the Songbird in November at Keeneland – the only time in five starts she failed to place – The Grass Is Blue ran third in the Anne Arundel County on December 26 at Laurel before earning a return trip to the winner's circle in her first 2021 start next out.

“She's really come along nicely in her development,” Brown said. “I didn't want to cut her back in distance, but she's been thriving in New York this winter in the environment and I didn't want to take that away from her. She was sharper with the blinkers on and pulling on Manny a bit, so maybe a cutback won't hurt her.”

The Grass Is Blue will see Manny Franco ride from post 4.

Team D's Miss Brazil followed a maiden-breaking win at second asking on November 29 at the Big A with a 6 1/4-length gate-to-wire score in the Ruthless going seven furlongs on February 8 over the same track in making her first start as a 3-year-old.

A daughter of Palace Malice, Miss Brazil has given her connections optimism that the one-turn mile should not be an issue, with trainer Tony Dutrow saying a strong performance could open up the potential to run even longer as the year progresses.

“She leads us to believe that seven furlongs to a mile is within her ability, but we'll find out for sure,” Dutrow said. “She'll probably meet the best horses she's ever faced before, and with an added distance, so we know we have to past this test. But I'm happy with how the progression has gone so far.”

Eric Cancel, aboard for the Ruthless win, will have the return call from the inside post.

Gary Barber's Make Mischief will have a quick turnaround after winning the Maddie May by a neck on February 20 at Aqueduct. Contested at the Busher's distance, the Maddie May saw Make Mischief shoot up the rail to overtake Brattle House in the final furlong. She will return just two weeks later looking to build on a stellar 3-3-0 record through seven starts.

“She came out of that race good, so we're running,” trainer Chris Englehart said. “She's a big, strong filly. Last race, coming up the fence the way she did, she showed a lot of courage.”

Make Mischief was trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse for her 2-year-old campaign that saw consecutive runner-up efforts in the Grade 3 Schuylerville, Grade 2 Adirondack and the Seeking the Ante during the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course.

Barber sent Make Mischief to the New York-based Englehart for the start of her 3-year-old year to get ready to compete for the winter meet with great success, as Make Mischief is 2-for-2 at the track, starting with a 3 ½-length win against optional claimers going seven furlongs on January 31, resulting in a personal-best 74 Beyer Speed Figure.

“She came to us in great shape from Mark Casse and she's pretty much the same horse,” Englehart said.

Dylan Davis will have the call from post 6.

Late Night Stable's Mo Desserts will step up to stakes company for the first time, looking to build on a maiden-breaking 15 1/2-length score against a five-horse field at the Busher distance on February 8 for trainer Jimmy Jerkens.

The Nyquist filly started her career with big expectations, selling for $300,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Select Sale. Unraced as a juvenile, she ran third on debut in a six-furlong sprint on January 10 at Aqueduct before an emphatic win next out when Pablo Morales rode for the first time. Morales will have the return engagement from post 5.

The Busher is slated as Race 6 on Aqueduct's 10-race program with a first post time of 12:50 p.m. Eastern.

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The TDN Derby Top 12 for Mar. 2

We're now past the unofficial “Justify cutoff” of Feb. 18, which represents the latest maiden-breaking date of any GI Kentucky Derby winner. That means it's extremely likely we've already seen the 2021 winner in action, but it doesn't necessarily mean the Derby winner is ranked within this edition of the Top 12. This list represents the top of the crop while leaving speculation open to longshot Derby dreamers inside the 10-week mark to the first Saturday in May.

1) GREATEST HONOUR (c, Tapit–Tiffany's Honour, by Street Cry {Ire})
O/B-Courtlandt Farms (KY). T-Claude R. McGaughey III. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 6-3-1-2, $351,940.
Last Start: 1st GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S., GP, Feb. 27
Accomplishments: 1st GIII Holy Bull S.
Next Start: GI Curlin Florida Derby, GP, Mar. 27

Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 60.

March opens with a new kingpin atop the sophomore totem pole. Greatest Honour edged out fellow Tapit-sired Essential Quality based on the visually arresting nature of his GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth score, which left the impression this long-striding colt has the potential to be scary-good at Classic distances. After losing all momentum on the far turn when his back end clipped with an outside horse, this Courtlandt Farms homebred uncorked a devastating late run despite a 1 1/16-mile configuration at Gulfstream that does not favor off-the-tailgate tactics. Greatest Honour also got pelted with kickback while pinned down on the rail for most of the race, yet finished up with authority even though he was a good five lengths behind with a furlong left.

“He didn't get anything perfect [trip-wise] and he came back and won,” trainer Shug McGaughey said Sunday, underscoring the GI Curlin Florida Derby is next. “He was doing something he didn't want to do–to run 1 1/16 miles over this racetrack with the short pole. I'm just glad I don't have to do that anymore…. Now we have longer races in front of us.”

There are some “con” points about Greatest Honour's “pro” performance that merit consideration: The pacemaker he reeled in was definitely tiring, and no one else was truly firing. And the 89 Beyer Speed Figure he earned was the same as in his last win a month ago, so no uptick there. Plus, it's always dangerous to fall in love with a closer for the Derby, because large-framed horses who make one sustained run from the back frequently need to get lucky trip-wise in a bulky 20-horse field.

2) ESSENTIAL QUALITY (c, Tapit–Delightful Quality, by Elusive Quality)
O/B-Godolphin (KY). T-Brad Cox. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo Colt & MGISW, 4-4-0-0, $1,785,144.
Last Start: 1st GIII Southwest S., OP, Feb. 27
Accomplishments: 'TDN Rising Star', 1st GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, 1st GI TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile
Next Start: Uncommitted.
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 40.

After being delayed two weeks because of adverse weather, the 3-year-old debut of the undefeated juvenile champ ended up being worth the wait. This Tapit-sired 'TDN Rising Star' continues to march forward on the progression arc, and his 4 1/4-length GIII Southwest S. smackdown in the Oaklawn slop showcased the high-caliber stalking skills this homebred for Godolphin flashed last autumn en route to a GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile victory. When second favorite Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) slowed down the half-mile split to :48.11, it was apparent that favored “EQ” would have to earn his win. The into-the-bit champ wanted to pull down the backstretch, but jockey Luis Saez instead schooled EQ to edge forward incrementally. You could tell this colt was “getting it” by how EQ attained and released each target before zeroing in on the distance-challenged pacemaker. He then swatted away a fresh stretch challenge in the form of late-striding Spielberg (Union Rags). Still, EQ is going to have to overcome one daunting historical obstacle: The forebodingly low 2-for-36 strike rate of Juvenile winners in the Derby. And while EQ earned a 96 Beyer for his Southwest win, that's only a one-point progression off his best 2-year-old race. In fact, 10 horses have now run back out of the Juvenile, and EQ is the only one of the top nine finishers to (barely) post an improved next-out Beyer. With the exception of the 12th- and 13th-place finishers, everyone else he beat back in November regressed, numbers-wise, signaling that race's field might not be as strong as it first seemed. The GII Toyota Blue Grass S. and the GI Arkansas Derby are next-start considerations.

3) CADDO RIVER (c, Hard Spun–Pangburn, by Congrats)
O/B-Shortleaf Stable (KY). T-Brad Cox. Lifetime Record: SW, 4-2-2-0, $166,092. Last Start: 1st Smarty Jones S., OP, Jan. 22.
Accomplishments: 'TDN Rising Star'
Next Start: GII Rebel S., OP, Mar. 13
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 10.

Usually you hear about horses traveling to Oaklawn to avoid nasty winter weather and not the other way around, but 'TDN Rising Star' Caddo River is the exception. With divisions at multiple tracks, trainer Brad Cox had the flexibility to ship this Hard Spun homebred for Shortleaf Stable from Hot Springs to New Orleans Feb. 11 to avoid the freeze that cost Oaklawn 11 days of training. Cox said Sunday this front-running force will remain at Fair Grounds to train up to the Mar. 13 GII Rebel S. at Oaklawn, a race in which he figures to go off favored (with no other Top 12 contenders committed as of this writing). The ability to nimbly reach a high-cruising speed and withstand legit pace pressure are this colt's twin strengths. But Cox indicated Sunday he's already thinking a bit further ahead in terms of how many Derby qualifying points this 2-for-4 winner (by a combined 19 1/2 lengths) might need to be certain of a spot in the field.

“Caddo River's the one that's going to have to step up in a points race and pick off some points,” Cox said.

Right now he's ranked 18th with 10 points; the Rebel offers 85 (50-20-10-5).

4) LIFE IS GOOD (c, Into Mischief–Beach Walk, by Distorted Humor)
O-CHC Inc & WinStar Farm LLC. B-Gary & Mary West Stable (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $525,000 yrl '19 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 2-2-0-0, $94,200.
Last Start: 1st GIII Sham S., SA, Jan. 2
Next Start: GII San Felipe S., SA, Mar. 6
Accomplishments: 'TDN Rising Star'
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 10.

'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good will be heavily favored to win Saturday's GII San Felipe S. (entries Wednesday), a race that has reliably produced at least one Kentucky Derby starter from each of its last 12 runnings and in an ultra-impressive 31 of the last 32. During that time, eight San Felipe participants went on to win the Derby (Alysheba, Sunday Silence, Silver Charm, Real Quiet, Fusaichi Pegasus, Giacomo, California Chrome and Authentic), and nine others ran second or third in Louisville.

This $525,000 KEESEP Into Mischief bay has flaunted nothing but “1s” in the past performances of his two wire-to-wire lifetime wins, and the 101 Beyer Speed Figure this 'TDN Rising Star' earned in the Jan. 2 GIII Sham S. remains the only triple-digit number posted by a 3-year-old to this point in the season.

Life is Good worked six furlongs handily Sunday at Santa Anita in 1:12.20 (1/3).

“He went well,” trainer Bob Baffert said after the drill. “I'm happy. We're all set.”

5) MANDALOUN (c, Into Mischief–Brooch, by Empire Maker)
O/B-Juddmonte Farms Inc. (KY). T-Brad Cox. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-2-0-1, $351,252.
Last Start: 1st GII Risen Star S., FG, Feb. 13
Next Start: GII Louisiana Derby, FG, Mar. 20
Accomplishments: 'TDN Rising Star', 3rd GIII Lecomte S.
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 52.

Mandaloun's Beyer Speed Figure leapt forward to a 98 with the addition of a one-inch blinker cup when winning the GII Risen Star S. at Fair Grounds (initially that represented a nine-point jump, but his GIII Lecomte S. Beyer has since been readjusted upward from an 89 to a 91).

Trainer Brad Cox is now aiming this Into Mischief-sired Juddmonte homebred for the GII Louisiana Derby, and if Mandaloun retains his newfound focus, he looms as a legit favorite. He was into the bit early and three wide on both bends in the Risen Star, then went on the prowl 7/16ths out and held sway in a prolonged stretch drive that featured a four-horse fight. This 'TDN Rising Star' needed assertive handling in the late stages of his races at age two, but part of the maturing process on the Derby trail involves teaching A-level colts to fire before all-out urging is required to finish the task.

6) PROXY (c, Tapit–Panty Raid, by Include)
O/B-Godolphin (KY). T-Michael Stidham. Lifetime Record: MGSP, 5-2-3-0, $187,700.
Last Start: 2nd GII Risen Star S., FG, Feb. 13
Next Start: GII Louisiana Derby, FG, Mar. 20
Accomplishments: 2nd GIII Lecomte S.
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 24.

In this space one month ago, Proxy was flagged as the type of colt who doesn't jump out at you as an obvious top-tier contender. Even after his running-in-spots second-place try in the Risen Star, I stand by that assessment. Because based on his breeding (by Tapit out of an Include mare) and his patient connections (homebred by Godolphin and trained by Michael Stidham), Proxy has all the makings of a horse who quietly accrues qualifying points without an exclamation-point race, but then suddenly looks like a “live” wiseguy play as he rounds into peak form during Derby week.

Stidham said after the Risen Star he'd be experimenting with blinkers, and in Proxy's first work back since his last race, he bullet-breezed a half mile Friday at Fair Grounds in :47.00 (1/40).

Check out the surface versatility in Proxy's immediate pedigree: In 2007, his dam, Panty Raid, won the GI American Oaks Invitational S. at 10 furlongs on the turf, the GI Spinster S. at nine furlongs on a synthetic track, and the GII Black-Eyed Susan S. at nine furlongs on dirt.

7) MEDINA SPIRIT (c, Protonico–Mongolian Changa, by Briliant Speed)
O-Zedan Racing Stables. B-Gail Rice (FL). T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $1,000 ylg '19 OBSWIN; $35,000 2yo '20 OBSOPN. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-2-1-0, $105,200.
Last Start: 1st GIII Robert B. Lewis S., SA, Jan. 30
Next Start: GII San Felipe S., SA, Mar. 6
Accomplishments: 2nd GIII Sham S.
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 14.

Overachiever Medina Spirit, a Protonico colt who sold for $1,000 at OBSWIN and $35,000 OBSOPN, was greenlighted to start in Saturday's San Felipe S. by trainer Bob Baffert. And the big news (unless you're jockey Abel Cedillo, who did an admirable job with this colt for his first three races) is that John Velazquez has committed to the mount after partnering with Baffert and Authentic to win the 2020 Derby.

Medina Spirit initially outworked more expensive and better-bred horses when he first arrived at the Baffert barn, and even though highly ranked Life Is Good bested him as expected in several morning moves, Medina Spirit was not disgraced, and even rallied to finish just three-quarters of a length behind that 1-5 favored stablemate in the GIII Sham S.

Medina Sprit rebounded off that try to win a length-of-stretch brawl in the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. after taking heat on the front end and prevailing by a neck in a three-way photo, prompting Baffert to quip “That reminded me a little bit of Silver Charm,” Baffert's 1997 Derby winner who similarly was not an overly expensive OBS-sold colt ($16,500 OBSAUG yearling, $100,000 OBSAPR).

8) CANDY MAN ROCKET (c, Candy Ride {Arg}–Kenny Lane, by Forestry)
O-Frank Fletcher Racing Operations Inc; B-R S Evans (KY). T-Bill Mott. Sales History: $190,000 RNA wlg '18 KEENOV; $70,000 RNA yrl '19 KEESEP; $250,000 2yo '20 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-2-0-0, $144,824.
Last Start: 1st GIII Sam F. Davis S., TAM, Feb. 6
Next Start: GII Tampa Bay Derby, Tam, Mar. 6
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 10.

Candy Man Rocket will headline the GII Tampa Bay Derby for trainer Bill Mott based on the colt's 85-Beyer win in the GIII Sam F. Davis S. Feb. 6. This three-time auction entrant–RNA'd for $190,000 (KEENOV) and $70,000 (KEESEP) prior to hammering for $250,000 (OBSAPR)–breezed a bullet half mile at Payson Park Sunday in :48.60 (1/36).

“He was on his own, he went well and I'm very pleased with him. He looked as smooth as silk,” Mott said. “He is a good work horse anyway, but I liked the way he did it. The [Tampa Bay Derby] has been on our minds since he won the Sam F. Davis. Any time you get a horse that runs well over that racetrack, you have to give it consideration.”

But an affinity for Tampa's sandy, banked-turn surface does not always translate to success in Louisville. In the 40-year history of the track's signature race, the only horse to parlay the Tampa/Kentucky Derby double was Street Sense in 2007; Super Saver, third in 2010, was the only other Tampa Bay Derby starter to win the Kentucky Derby.

9) SPIELBERG (c, Union Rags–Miss Squeal, by Smart Strike)
O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Golconda Stables, Siena Farm LLC, & Robert Masterson. B-G Watts Humphrey Jr (Ky). T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $1,000,000 yrl '19 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW & MGISP, 8-2-3-1, $413,200.
Last Start: 2nd GIII Southwest S., OP, Feb. 27
Next Start: Uncommitted.
Accomplishments: 1st GII Los Alamitos Futurity, 2nd GI Runhappy Del Mar Futurity, 3rd GI American Pharoah S.
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 17.

Spielberg's second at 7-1 behind champ Essential Quality in the GIII Southwest S. was a decent enough effort to give him some momentum and confidence going into the nine-furlong territory of the Derby trail. This $1-million KEESEP colt by Union Rags was unprepared and ducked out at the break, then got nudged four wide on the clubhouse bend while relegated to last.

“I put him in the race [and] just followed the winner every step. When I asked him, he went, but the winner was already being asked. I think my horse will be better at 1 1/8 miles,” said jockey Martin Garcia.

Spielberg had been an enigma prior to the Southwest, alternating wins and fourth-place finishes since Nov. 1. His long drive won the GII Los Alamitos Futurity by a nose, but he was all out to reel in a tiring 33-1 maiden. He subsequently finished 11 lengths behind the stretch-battling trio that photo'd for the win in the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. Still, this colt now has eight races of experience under his girth and stands a shot at moving up on Baffert's depth chart depending on how the barn's three other Top 12-ranked contenders fare in this Saturday's stakes.

10) PREVALENCE (c, Medaglia d'Oro—Enrichment, by Ghostzapper)
O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brendan Walsh. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $25,800.
Last Start: 1st Maiden Special Weight, GP, Jan. 23
Next Start: Uncommitted.
Accomplishments: 'TDN Rising Star'
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 0.

Prevalence missed some February training after spiking a fever, but was back on the work tab Saturday, breezing a half-mile in :48.40 at Palm Meadows (5/73). This Medaglia d'Oro-sired 'TDN Rising Star' won his Jan. 23 Gulfstream debut by 8 1/2 geared-down lengths after sparring through a five-way fight for the lead in a “loaded” seven-furlong MSW, but he's now a touch under the gun in terms of Derby preparedness after missing his shot at either an allowance race or a start in the GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S.

This Godolphin homebred will also have to come off of Lasix if he is to enter a Derby-qualifying stakes after racing on it in his 89-Beyer debut. How have Derby aspirants coming off of Lasix fared so far in 2021 under the new system prohibiting that drug's use in points-eligible sophomore stakes? Through 13 prep races since Jan. 1, horses giving up Lasix after using it in their most recent start are a collective 3-for-30 (with three other runners finishing second).

11) FREEDOM FIGHTER (c, Violence–Canadian Ballet, by City Zip)
O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Golconda Stables, Siena Farm LLC, and Robert Masterson. B-Mr & Mrs Troy Reed (Ky). T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $120,000 yrl '19 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSP, 2-1-1-0, $73,000.
Last Start: 2nd GII San Vicente S., SA, Feb. 6
Next Start: GIII Gotham S., AQU, Mar. 6.
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 0.

The final two horses within the Top 12 share similarities in that neither has raced beyond one turn and both will meet in Saturday's GIII Gotham S. Mar. 6 at Aqueduct, which is another one-turn affair (mile). This Violence colt out of a City Zip mare ($120,000 KEESEP), really caught the eye when running a better race than winning 2-5 stablemate and 'TDN Rising Star' Concert Tour (Street Sense) in the GII San Vicente S. He blitzed out of the gate, withstood early pressure, then wouldn't quit in the stretch run of his first race since a debut win Aug. 1 at Del Mar. Separated by half a length, the top two both earned 94 Beyers.

Over the past five years, trainer Bob Baffert has sent five shippers to Aqueduct, compiling a 1-2-1 record.

12) HIGHLY MOTIVATED (c, Into Mischief–Strong Incentive, by Warrior's Reward)
O/B-Klaravich Stables, Inc (KY). T-Chad Brown. Sales History: $240,000 wlg '18 KEENOV. Lifetime Record: SW, 3-2-1-0, $124,050.
Last Start: 1st Nyquist S., KEE, Nov. 6
Next Start: GIII Gotham S., AQU, Mar. 6
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 0.

A track-record-setting and key-race winner when last seen on the Breeders' Cup undercard at Keeneland, this $240,000 KEENOV Into Mischief colt will vie with Freedom Fighter for favoritism in Saturday's GIII Gotham S. at Aqueduct.

Klaravich Stable bred Highly Motivated after racing his dam (likewise trained by Chad Brown), the seven-furlong black-type stakes winner Strong Incentive. But this colt ended up going through the auction ring because Klaravich was buying out a partner who co-owned the weanling.

Authentic's powerhouse wins in the Derby and GI Breeders' Cup Classic last season shored up questions about the ability for Into Mischief's progeny to carry aggressive speed up to 10 furlongs. But this colt's dam-sire, Warrior's Reward, made his mark as a sprinter, registering his lone stakes win at seven furlongs in the 2010 GI Carter H.

On the Bubble (in alphabetical order):

Concert Tour (Street Sense): 'TDN Rising Star' will ship to Oaklawn to contest the GII Rebel S., a race that his trainer, Bob Baffert, has won seven times in the previous 12 runnings (including split divisions in 2019). But prior to Nadal's win in 2020, Baffert had saddled the beaten fave in four straight runnings.

Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music): After starting his career 4-for-4 with commanding displays of speed in one-turn races, this colt has now tasted defeat in two route tries despite advantageous trips in both. He slowed down the pace on the front end of Saturday's GIII Southwest S., but called it a day by the quarter pole, relegating him outside the Top 12.

Keepmeinmind (Laoban): After going back and forth several times over which February prep race to enter, this colt's connections eventually decided to skip races at both Oaklawn and Fair Grounds and instead wait for the GII Rebel S. This deep closer (formerly ranked No. 12) won the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. with a tepid 80 Beyer, but he'd probably enjoy a tactical advantage if a speed duel percolates on the front end of the Rebel.

Known Agenda (Curlin): Big rebound race on Friday, winning by 11 lengths in a nine-furlong allowance-optional claimer at Gulfstream after a blah fifth in the Feb. 6 GIII Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa. Trainer Todd Pletcher now says the Florida Derby is “definitely in play.”

Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow): Could be the GII Louisiana Derby sleeper. His winning Beyer in the Lecomte S. has subsequently been revised upward from 91 to 93. And did you notice that he galloped out longer and stronger than everyone else after battling to hold third in the Risen Star?

Risk Taking (Medaglia d'Oro): Trainer Chad Brown has a colt who's already won twice over nine furlongs at Aqueduct and remains stabled in New York. He sees no reason to mess with that formula, so this $250,000 KEESEP grad will aim for the 1 1/8-miles Apr. 3 GII Wood Memorial S.

The post The TDN Derby Top 12 for Mar. 2 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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NYRA’s Empire 6 Wager To Continue Daily Mandatory Payout Through March

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced the Empire 6 wager will continue to offer a daily mandatory payout in the month of March at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Featuring a $0.20 bet minimum and 20 percent takeout, the Empire 6 wager requires bettors to select the first-place finisher of the final six races of the card. The full pool, minus takeout, will be distributed to bettors who select the first-place finisher in the greatest number of races on the card.

NYRA established a daily mandatory payout of the Empire 6 for the month of January at Aqueduct as part of a pilot program in response to horseplayer interest in wagers that reward the daily player with the opportunity for impressive payouts.

The daily mandatory payout was extended through February with the pilot project expanded by offering the Empire 6 as a retail-only wager. The pilot project will continue with both caveats throughout the month of March.

Aqueduct will offer 13 racing dates in March with live racing generally conducted Friday through Sunday, with the addition of a special Thursday card on March 25 to make up for weather-related cancellations during the Big A winter meet.

The Empire 6 was launched in August 2019 with a jackpot provision in which the full pool would be paid out only to a single ticket selecting the first-place finisher in all six races, otherwise 75 percent of the day's net pool would be distributed to those who selected the first-place finisher in the greatest number of races with the remainder added into a jackpot and carried to the next day's Empire 6.

For more information, please visit NYRABets.com.

The post NYRA’s Empire 6 Wager To Continue Daily Mandatory Payout Through March appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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