drain the clock | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘Best At One Turn,’ Drain The Clock Cuts Back For Bay Shore

A compact but competitive field of 3-year-old dirt sprinters has assembled for Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000 Bay Shore at seven furlongs on the Aqueduct Racetrack main track led by Florida shipper Drain the Clock, who enters off a runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park.

While the temptation for most connections would be to forge ahead on the Kentucky Derby trail after picking up 20 qualifying points in the Fountain of Youth, trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. and an ownership coalition of Slam Dunk Racing, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables and Michael Nentwig have elected to abandon such quixotic pursuits and instead focus on shorter races with their talented sophomore.

A son of Maclean's Music out of an Arch mare, Drain the Clock has a sparkling record in sprint races, with only one blemish on his resume which came in the two-turn, seven-furlong Jean Lafitte at Delta Downs when an iron broke and he lost his rider. Aside from that mishap, the chestnut colt has four wins in dirt dashes, including a pair of open-length tallies at Gulfstream during their recent Championship Meet, and nearly wired the field last out in the Fountain of Youth but was run down late by a legitimate Kentucky Derby prospect in Greatest Honour.

“He's never got beat going one turn,” said Joseph, Jr. “He ran a credible race in the Fountain of Youth but I think he's best at one turn and we're hoping he'll show up and run his usual race.”

Looking for his fifth win from just seven starts, Drain the Clock will break from post 3 with Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard for the first time.

While Drain the Clock has undoubtedly compiled the most impressive resume of anyone in the Bay Shore, a quartet of hungry challengers has lined up behind him to take their shots.

The likely favorite's stiffest competition could come from the Pennsylvania-bred Beren, who is seeking his third straight victory as he makes his foray into New York via Parx Racing.

Trained by Butch Reid for St. Omer's Farm and Christopher Feifarek, it took Beren a little while to figure things out but he's been in solid form in 2021 as he broke his maiden by 6 1/4-lengths two starts ago and followed it up with a two-length score over a group of first-level optional claimers on March 3 at Parx.

“He's doing very well. He just had a nice little blowout, has won his last two and is brimming with confidence. It's a short field so why not take a chance,” said Reid. “He's really matured this year. He was a gangly horse as a 2-year-old but he's filled out nicely and looks good. He put on weight like a 3-year-old colt should and we're real excited about him.”

Beren will be ridden by Manny Franco from post 5.

Coming off a win in the slop at Oaklawn Park, the Steve Asmussen-trained Whiskey Double adds to the out-of-town flavor of the Bay Shore.

A bay son of Into Mischief, Whiskey Double took his debut early in his juvenile year on June 27 at Churchill Downs but didn't resurface again until January of this year, when he finished third in a sprint at Fair Grounds behind O Besos, who recently placed third in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby. After a dull effort going 1 1/16 miles on February 13 at Fair Grounds, Whiskey Double responded well to a turnback in distance in his last start, in which he prevailed by three-quarters of a length in a six-furlong dash at Oaklawn.

Jose Ortiz will be aboard the Winchell Thoroughbreds color-bearer from post 4.

Not to be forgotten in this diverse Bay Shore cast, the local contingent will be represented by Too Boss and Garoppolo, who go out for trainers Todd Pletcher and Kelly Breen, respectively.

A gray son of El Padrino, the former broke his maiden over this same track and distance by 5 ½ lengths on January 17 with an 81 Beyer Speed Figure, but things went awry in his last start going two turns at Parx on a sloppy track and he finished fourth, beaten seven lengths. He'll look to bounce back from the inside post with Kendrick Carmouche in the irons.

Garoppolo, meanwhile, has been off since contesting the Grade 2 Saratoga Special on August 7 at Saratoga Race Course last year. Prior to his distant fourth-place finish in the Saratoga Special, the Outwork colt broke his maiden at Belmont Park, where he appears to be working well for his return over the adjacent training track. Owned by Mr. Amore Stable and to be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Garoppolo will depart from post 2 as he makes his 3-year-old debut.

Part of a stellar undercard for the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino, the Bay Shore is one of five graded stakes races on the program, which also includes the Grade 1, $300,000 Carter Handicap, the Grade 3, $250,000 Gazelle, and the Grade 3, $150,000 Excelsior.

The Bay Shore is slated as Race 4 on the 11-race card. First post is at 12:50 p.m. Eastern.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the winter meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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Prevalence Preps for Wood

Godolphin's unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Prevalence (Medaglia d'Oro) recorded his final breeze ahead of Saturday's GII Wood Memorial S. presented by Resorts World Casino, covering a half mile in a best-of-30 :47.60 at Palm Meadows Sunday morning.

“He worked here this morning at Palm Meadows and it went very well and he's flying up there [to Aqueductus] on Wednesday,” said conditioner Brendan Walsh. “It looks like he's going into the race in good shape. It's another step now, so we'll find out if he can go the two turns as well. This will answer our questions and be a good test for him.”

A buzzed-about 8 1/2-length debut winner going seven panels at Gulfstream Jan. 23, the homebred annexed a one-mile optional claimer by three lengths Mar. 11.

“He's a very nice, quiet, easy-going horse and I don't think the travel will affect him at all,” Walsh said. “We'll see how he handles the track. He hits me as a horse who can handle any kind of surface.”

Others to work in Florida Sunday before shipping to New York included the Saffie Joseph, Jr.-trained pair of GI Carter H. contender Mischevious Alex (Into Mischief) (4f, :47.14, 2/70 at Gulfstream) and GIII Bay Shore S.-bound Drain the Clock (Maclean's Music) (4f, :47.72, 5/70). Joseph will have 12 stalls at Belmont Park this spring.

“We're coming in with good horses in 'Alex' and Drain the Clock and it would be nice to get off to a good start,” he said. “I think we have a very strong set of horses.”

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Joseph Derby Dreamin’

A Triple Crown winner in his native Barbados, Saffie Joseph Jr. took his first shot at America's Classics in 2020 with GISP Ny Traffic (Cross Traffic), who failed to hit the board in both the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. last fall before heading to the sidelines for the remainder of the season. Fast forward to 2021, Joseph returns to the Triple Crown trail with another exciting prospect in Three Chimneys Farm and eFive Racing's Collaborate (Into Mischief), who is slated to contest Saturday's GI Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. The colt debuted with a fifth as the favorite going six panels in the Gulfstream slop Feb. 6 before rebounding to a TDN Rising Star garnering performance when winning by an eye-catching 12 1/2-length margin stretching to a mile at the Hallandale oval Feb. 27.

“Every time we worked him before he ran, he impressed really me,” he said. “He did everything so effortlessly and nothing seemed to phase him. So, when he got beat first time out it was a big disappointment because he had touted himself so much leading up to that. I just didn't think he'd get beat. But that day, he got valuable experience. It was a relief second time out because we always knew he had that kind of talent.”

Joseph's first Grade I victory was recorded by Math Wizard (Algorithms), a one-time $25,000 claimer who went on to annex the 2019 Pennsylvania Derby. And it was the development of lesser pedigreed horses into top-rung winners that earned Joseph Jr. the street-cred needed to usher in flashier stock. Case in point, purchased for the healthy sum of $600,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling sale, Collaborate represents the highest priced sales purchase for the young trainer.

“He's definitely the most talented horse I've ever had,” affirmed Joseph Jr. “He has a lot of ability. We're a little behind schedule, so we're asking him to do things that might be a tall task. But he seems like he as the ability to overcome it. Getting beat the first time, in hind sight, was a blessing because he got a lot of education from that. He got more tired first time out than in his second start. We just hope we can build on that and show up again and run a similar race [in the Florida derby]. If he does, we think we have a horse that is very capable.”

Regarding tactics for the nine-furlong contest, he added, “He's very versatile. I think that's one of his advantages. He has that high-cruising speed and he stays pretty strong late. I think he will be on or near the lead, where he is comfortable. Ideally, he will be in a forward position and can run his race.”

Tyler Gaffalione reunites with the colt Saturday.

Joseph will also be represented by additional Triple Crown hopefuls–Moonlite Strike (Liam's Map) and Awesome Gerry (Liam's Map)–at Turfway Park Saturday in the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks, which offers 100 Derby points to the winner. The former won second out going seven-eighths at GP West before adding another tally while adding a furlong in a Dec. 10 optional claimer. Fourth in Oaklawn's Smarty Jones S. Jan. 22, he was an improved third last time in the Mar. 6 GII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby.

“In the Tampa Derby, he kind of jumped up and ran above his odds and actually surprised us,” admitted Joseph Jr. “He was third and picked up 10 points and he had one more from his previous race at Oaklawn. [Sonata Stables] wants to give him a chance to continue on and see if he can pick up some more points.”

John Fanelli, Cash Is King, LC Racing, Paul Braverman and Timot Pinch's Awesome Gerry won two of four starts in Southern Florida at two in addition to finishing runner up in the Jean Lafitte S. at Delta last November. Third in Gulfstream's Mucho Macho Man S. in January, the grey finished seventh and sixth, respectively, in the Jan. 30 GIII Holy Bull S. and most recently in the Tampa Bay Derby.

“We feel like if Moonlite Strike finishes one-two-three he can earn a spot and it would be nice for the owner to have a Derby runner,” he said. “We thought the Jeff Ruby was the best opportunity to pick up some points. He has a turf pedigree, so we figured he might light the Tapeta and that might help move him up a little bit. And we hope the Tapeta could also help Awesome Gerry move up, too.”

While having already earned Derby points when winning the Jan. 30 GIII Swale S., Slam Dunk Racing, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables and Michael Nentwig's Drain the Clock is unlikely to pursue a berth the First Saturday in May. He most recently finished runner up behind Florida Derby early favorite Greatest Honour (Tapit) in the Feb. 27 GII Fasig-Tipton GII Fountain of Youth S.

“Drain the Clock picked up 20 points in the Fountain of Youth S. and it was probably easy to pick up a few more points to get him to the Derby, but that ownership group they don't want to go to the Derby if they can't win it,” he confirmed.

Instead, the chestnut will be redirected to shorter distances, beginning with the Apr. 3 GIII Bay Shore S. at Aqueduct. Irad Ortiz Jr. will have the mount.

Although Joseph had spent many of his early years as a trainer dreaming about having a horse good enough to make it into the starting gate on Derby day, his initial attempt during a COVID- plagued season proved anything but usual. So, heading toward this year's race, what was his chief takeaway after tackling the 2020 renewal?

“Last year was the first time, so you obviously learn something,” he said. “Even without a crowd, in the walk over our horse got a bit keyed up. If we get back there this year, we'd probably use earplugs on the horse. But as far as training, you just hope the horses stays healthy enough to get into the race.”

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Off Big Maiden Win, Collaborate In Mix For Florida Derby; Drain The Clock Cutting Back

Three Chimneys Farm and e Five Racing Thoroughbreds' 3-year-old colt Collaborate, an eye-catching maiden winner on Saturday's Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth day program at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., may have run himself onto the Triple Crown trail.

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said Sunday morning that the sophomore son of Into Mischief, also bred by Three Chimneys, is likely to make his next start in the $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa March 27.

The Florida Derby offers 170 qualifying points (100-40-20-10) to the May 1 Kentucky Derby (G1), as do the Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct and Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland, both run April 3. All three preps are contested at 1 1/8 miles.

“The Florida Derby is at home and he just has to walk out of his stall,” Joseph said. “I talked to the owners briefly yesterday and it will probably be between the Florida Derby, the Wood or the Blue Grass, but the Florida Derby will be the front-runner.

“Off [Saturday's] race, we're probably going to take a chance somewhere,” he added. “We feel like he's a Derby horse. I know we're a little behind schedule, but with the ability he has he can probably overcome it.”

Collaborate broke sharply and set a measured pace under jockey Tyler Gaffalione, going in splits of 23.72 seconds, 46.57 and 1:11.12 before beginning to edge away from his 10 rivals. He hit the stretch six lengths in front and kept rolling to win by 12 ½ at the end in 1:36.35 for one mile over a fast main track.

“We weren't surprised. That's hard to say with a horse winning like that but that's the horse we thought he was,” Joseph said. “The first time out, we got him beat. It hurt to get him beat first time out, because we thought he was that good, but you always have to look at the positive in each scenario and the first time I thought he gained valuable experience.”

Collaborate also went off as the favorite for his debut, a six-furlong maiden special weight Feb. 6, where he endured traffic issues after getting away poorly and wound up sixth though beaten just 1 ¼ lengths.

“He was off a tad slow, took a lot of dirt, had to split horses, had to wait, [but] I thought the experience first time out was priceless,” Joseph said. “It hurt getting him beat, but if you draw the positives from the race it was priceless experience and it carried over to yesterday. He stretched out to a mile for the first time and he got a fairly easy race which, in hindsight, I don't mind because his first race I thought was a pretty hard race on him.”

Joseph made his Triple Crown race debut last fall with John Fanelli, Cash is King, LC Racing, Paul Braverman and Team Hanley's Ny Traffic. Runner-up in the Louisiana Derby (G2), Matt Winn (G2) and Haskell (G1), he finished eighth in the Derby and ninth in the Preakness.

“It's very exciting to have the owners that we have providing these horses to us. We're thankful,” Joseph said. “The horses will make good trainers and we've got some really quality horses now and we're thankful for each and every one.”

Fountain of Youth (G2) Runner-Up Drain the Clock Cutting Back
While impressive maiden-winning stablemate Collaboarate earned the chance to stretch out for a shot at the $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa, Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Drain the Clock isn't expected to join him.

Joseph said Sunday that Slam Dunk Racing, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables and Michael Nentwig's Drain the Clock, himself a sharp winner of the seven-furlong Claiborne Farm Swale (G3) Jan. 30 at Gulfstream in his graded debut, would remain at shorter distances for now.

Drain the Clock set the pace in the 1 1/16-mile Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) Saturday at Gulfstream, his first attempt around two turns, and nearly pulled off the upset before getting reeled in by Holy Bull (G3) winner Greatest Honour.

“Talking to the owners briefly after the race, initially I think we're going to step back and keep him at one turn. We tried it and I think he handled the mile and a sixteenth, but I don't think we're going to try to push it,” Joseph said. “I think we have a really good horse. I feel like we have a Grade 1 horse and he's probably going to be best at one turn, so most likely we're going to stick to one turn.”

The Fountain of Youth was the first loss for Drain the Clock in a race where he finished. He broke his maiden and beat winners in an optional claiming allowance last fall at Gulfstream and Gulfstream Park West, respectively, before losing his rider on the backstretch of the Jean Lafitte Stakes at Delta Downs. He returned to South Florida and opened his 3-year-old season with a win in the Jan. 3 Limehouse that set him up for the Swale triumph.

Drain the Clock ran splits of 23.66 seconds, 47.18, 1:11.51 and 1:37.45, taking a 2 ½-length lead into the stretch before Greatest Honour, trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, closed stoutly on the outside to win by 1 ½ lengths. Drain the Clock, second choice in the wagering behind the winner, was two lengths clear of 18-1 long shot Papetu in third.

“He looked like a winner at the quarter pole but he got run down by a horse that has a lot of stamina and excellent ability in Shug's horse. A credit to Shug for the job he's done with that horse. We lost nothing in defeat. You like to win if you can but if any horse runs like that, you walk away thankful and happy,” Joseph said. “He's doing well. He ate pretty good last night and seemed to cool out well.”

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