Jackie’s Warrior Faces ‘Rising Star’ Challenge in Pat Day Mile

J. Kirk and Judy Robison's Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) returns to one turn for the first time since winning the GI Champagne S. last October as the likely favorite in Saturday's GII Pat Day Mile beneath the Twin Spires.

A $95,000 Keeneland September purchase, Jackie's Warrior is perfect in four starts up to a mile, having stamped himself as the leader of his generation with powerful front-running victories in the GII Saratoga Special S. and GI Hopeful S. ahead of a 5 1/2-length tally in the Champagne that made him the one to beat in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. In close attendance to a very demanding pace on Breeders' Cup Friday, the scopey bay colt poked a head in front between calls in the final stages, but weakened last to finish fourth, beaten just over three lengths behind champion Essential Quality (Tapit), in an effort better than it looks on paper. Connections understandably gave him one more chance to board the Triple Crown train in the GIII Southwest S. over a sloppy Oaklawn strip Feb. 27, but he tired after getting things very much his own way up front and checked in a distant eighth.

Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' Prevalence (Medaglia d'Oro) defeated next-out Keeneland maiden romper and Justify (Scat Daddy)'s 'Rising Star' half-brother Stage Raider (Pioneerof the Nile) by 8 1/2 lengths to graduate first time out over seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park Jan. 23. The homebred validated 1-10 favoritism in a one-mile allowance in Hallandale Mar. 11, but he wasn't quite ready for prime time when sixth, beaten five lengths, behind the Todd Pletcher-trained, Derby-bound duo of Bourbonic (Bernardini) and Dynamic One (Union Rags) in the GII Wood Memorial S. at Aqueduct Apr. 3. Prevalence worked a bullet three furlongs in :35 2/5 (1/5) over the Churchill main track Apr. 24.

Dream Shake (Twirling Candy) caused a bit of a dust-up in his career debut, winning by 4 3/4 lengths at 20-1 and earning a 96 Beyer Speed Figure in a 'Rising Star'-worthy performance. Third to fellow 'Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief) in the GII San Felipe S. and to Derby second choice Rock Your World (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the GI Santa Anita Derby, he, too, can benefit from this cutback in distance.

This race has been known to toss up the occasional long-priced winner and Sittin On Go (Brody's Cause) could be a live outsider. A debut graduate sprinting at Ellis Park last August, he defeated Derby entrants Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) and Super Stock (Dialed In) to upset the GIII Iroquois S. over course and distance on the Derby undercard last September. Beaten nearly 50 lengths combined in his last three tries around two turns, the chestnut will try to make a run from out of it in a race that appears to be loaded with speed.

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Essential Quality Draws Post Four Of Nine For Blue Grass Stakes

Post positions for Saturday's 97th running of the Toyota Blue Grass (G2) and 84th running of the Central Bank Ashland (G1) were drawn today at Keeneland. They will be run Saturday, the second day of Keeneland's 15-day Spring Meet. The season runs April 2-23.

$800,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G2), 3-year-olds, 1 1/8 miles
Weight: 123 lbs. * Race 11 * Post time: 6:35 p.m. ET

Post Horse Trainer Jockey Morning-Line Odds
1 Hidden Stash Vicki Oliver Rafael Bejarano 20-1
2 Untreated Joel Rosario Todd Pletcher 8-1
3 Highly Motivated Javier Castellano Chad Brown 7-2
4 Essential Quality Luis Saez Brad Cox 3-5
5 Rombauer Florent Geroux Michael McCarthy 15-1
6 Leblon Albin Jiminez Paulo Lobo 30-1
7 Hush of a Storm Santiago Gonzalez William Morey 15-1
8 Sittin On Go Corey Lanerie Dale Romans 30-1
9 Keepmeinmind David Cohen Robertino Diodoro 8-1

The Toyota Blue Grass will be the final race of Keeneland's April 3 card with a 6:35 p.m. ET post. NBC Sports Network will televise the race along with the Wood Memorial (G2) Presented by Resorts World Casino from Aqueduct and Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

$400,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1), 3-year-old fillies, 1 1/16 miles
Weight: 121 lbs. * Race 9 * Post time: 5:30 p.m. 

Post

Horse

Trainer

Jockey

Morning-Line Odds

1

Curlin's Catch

Mark Casse

Chris Landeros

8-1

2

Pass the Champagne

George Weaver

Javier Castellano

4-1

3

Simply Ravishing

Kenny McPeek

Luis Saez

5-2

4

Moon Swag

Brendan Walsh

Adam Beschizza

10-1

5

Malathaat

Todd Pletcher

Joel Rosario

9-5

6

Will's Secret

Dallas Stewart

Jon Court

7-2

Toyota Blue Grass and Central Bank Ashland are classic preps: For 3-year-olds, the Toyota Blue Grass and the Central Bank Ashland are respective major preps for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) on May 1 and Kentucky Oaks (G1) on April 30. The Toyota Blue Grass and Central Bank Ashland both carry 170 qualifying points for the Derby and Oaks on a 100-40-20-10 scale to the first four finishers.

Saturday's card: Eleven races begin at 1:05 p.m.

Saturday graded stakes lineup: Six graded stakes are worth a total of $2.1 million.

Race 6 (3:51 p.m.) $200,000 Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association

Race 7 (4:24 p.m.) $200,000 Commonwealth (G3)

Race 8 (4:57 p.m.) $200,000 Shakertown (G2)

Race 9 (5:30 p.m.) $400,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1)

Race 10 (6:02 p.m.) $300,000 Madison (G1)

Race 11 (6:35 p.m.) $800,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G2)

Wagering: $500,000 Guaranteed All-Stakes Pick Five and $500,000 Guaranteed All-Stakes Pick Four.

How to watch the Spring Meet: TVG's live, on-site coverage begins at 1 p.m. Thanks to the Keeneland Livestream Powered by Kentucky Utilities, fans can watch all races at no charge on Keeneland.com, Keeneland Race Day App, Keeneland Select, Keeneland's Facebook page and Keeneland's YouTube page.

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Candy Man Rocket ‘Deserving Favorite’ Of Full Field In Tampa Bay Derby

With the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve eight weeks away, time is running short for trainers entertaining visions of red roses and mint juleps. Saturday's Grade 2, $400,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby will bring together 12 3-year-olds, most with much to prove if they are to continue to advance toward a date with destiny on May 1.

“Except for Bill Mott's horse (Candy Man Rocket, who won the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes here on Feb. 6), everyone is searching to see if they belong as a contender or are just a pretender,” said Saffie Joseph, Jr., who will send out three horses in the 41st annual Tampa Bay Downs showcase: Moonlite Strike, Super Strong and Awesome Gerry.

“Candy Man Rocket is a deserving favorite. A lot of the others have shown glimpses of ability, but I think they would have to run their best race ever to win,” Joseph said. “It seems like there are a lot of horses in there with two or three starts, so it looks like it is wide-open.”

The mile-and-a-sixteenth Lambbholm South Tampa Bay Derby, scheduled on the main dirt track as the 11th race on a 12-race card, is one of five Festival Day 41 Presented by Lambholm South stakes worth a combined $1-million in purse money. The race is also a “Road to the Kentucky Derby” points affair, with 50, 20, 10 and 5 points awarded to the first four finishers toward securing a spot in the starting gate at Churchill Downs.

The other stakes on the card include the Grade 2, $225,000 Hillsborough Stakes for older fillies and mares at a mile-and-an-eighth on the turf, scheduled as the ninth race; the Grade 3, $200,000 Florida Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the grass, scheduled as the 10th race; the Grade 3, $100,000 Michelob Ultra Challenger Stakes for horses 4-years-old-and-upward at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the dirt, slated as the fifth race; and the $75,000 Columbia Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on the turf, scheduled as the seventh.

Post time for the first of Saturday's 12 races is 12:17 p.m.

Here is the full field for the Grade II, $400,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby in post position order, with trainer, jockey and morning-line odds:

1. My Liberty, Maria Ines Mejia, Tomas Mejia, 30-1; 2. Super Strong, Saffie Joseph, Jr., Antonio Gallardo, 8-1; 3. Candy Man Rocket, Bill Mott, Junior Alvarado, 2-1; 4. King of Dreams, Juan Carlos Avila, Samy Camacho, 20-1; 5. Boca Boy, Cheryl Winebaugh, Angel Arroyo, 15-1; 6. Awesome Gerry, Saffie Joseph, Jr., Hector Diaz, Jr., 15-1; 7. Moonlite Strike, Saffie Joseph, Jr., Daniel Centeno, 20-1; 8. Hidden Stash, Victoria Oliver, Rafael Bejarano, 4-1; 9. Unbridled Honor, Todd Pletcher, Julien Leparoux, 20-1; 10. Helium, Mark Casse, Jose Ferrer, 6-1; 11. Promise Keeper, Todd Pletcher, Luis Saez, 8-1; 12. Sittin On Go, Dale Romans, Roberto Alvarado, Jr., 20-1.

On Sunday, Mott said Candy Man Rocket “looked as smooth as silk” while breezing 4 furlongs at Payson Park Training Center in Indiantown in preparation for the race. Neither that assessment nor his 2-for-3 record, which includes a 9 ¼-length maiden victory on Jan. 9 at Gulfstream, deterred the connections of 11 others from competing.

Candy Man Rocket will break from the No. 3 post while again being ridden by Junior Alvarado.

Joseph has secured the services of three of the top four jockeys in the Tampa Bay Downs standings for his entrants. Daniel Centeno, who has won the Tampa Bay Derby twice, will ride Moonlite Strike from the No. 7 post, while Super Strong will break from the No. 2 post under Antonio Gallardo. Hector Diaz, Jr., will ride Awesome Gerry from the No. 6 post.

Super Strong, in some ways, is the most intriguing of the three. He is a son of Super Saver, who finished third in the 2010 Tampa Bay Derby, then went on to win the Kentucky Derby. Super Strong's only career start, on Dec. 19, resulted in an impressive come-from-behind victory in the Grade 1, 7-furlong Classico Agustin Mercado Revron Stakes on a sloppy track at Camarero in Puerto Rico.

Both Super Strong and Moonlite Strike are owned by Marc Tacher's Sonata Stable. Tacher transferred Super Strong to Joseph's Palm Meadows Training Center Beach in Boynton Beach in mid-January.

“He has trained well enough to give it a shot,” Joseph said. “It's hard to judge his form in Puerto Rico, but he acts like the distance will be no problem. We aren't giving up much experience to most of the other horses in the race. We definitely would like him to have another race in him, but we have to play the hand we're dealt.”

Joining Candy Man Rocket and Super Strong as a graded-stakes winner in the race is trainer Dale Romans's Sittin On Go, who will break from the outside No. 12 post with Roberto Alvarado, Jr., in the irons. Sittin On Go won the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes Presented by Ford on Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs, then was a non-threatening ninth in the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance on Nov. 6 at Keeneland.

A pair of subsequent off-the-board finishes against top-level competition finds Sittin On Go with more questions than answers as Saturday nears.

Todd Pletcher, who has sent out a record five winners of the Tampa Bay Derby, has two colts in this year's renewal. Promise Keeper, who will break from the No. 11 post under Luis Saez, broke his maiden in his second start on Feb. 6 at Gulfstream, drawing away to a 5-length victory in a 1-mile maiden special weight contest on a sloppy track.

Pletcher's other entrant is Unbridled Honor, who will break from the No. 9 post under Julien Leparoux. Unbridled Honor is 1-for-3, breaking his maiden at Tampa Bay Downs in a mile-and-40-yard maiden special weight race on Feb. 6.

The conditioner knows about winning the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby with lightly raced colts. His 2013 winner, Verrazano, was making his third career start; 2015 winner Carpe Diem was making his fourth start; and Pletcher's 2016 and 2017 winners, Destin and Tapwrit, their fifth starts.

Two horses that seem certain to take a fair share of wagering dollars are the third and fourth-place finishers in the Sam F. Davis, Hidden Stash and Boca Boy. Hidden Stash, who is trained by Victoria Oliver, will be reunited with jockey Rafael Bejarano, who rode him to his two career victories last fall at Keeneland and Churchill Downs. They break from the No. 8 post.

Boca Boy, the Sam F. Davis pace-setter, is the only Florida-bred and the only gelding in the race. The son of Prospective is trained by Cheryl Winebaugh and will be ridden by Angel Arroyo.

Ken Winebaugh, the assistant to wife Cheryl, said today that Boca Boy rebounded in fine fettle from his Sam F. Davis effort and that he expects another good performance. Arroyo, who rode Boca Boy in his first three starts, last rode him when he finished second in August in the Proud Man Stakes on the turf at Gulfstream.

“I think he got a little tired in the Sam F. Davis, but he didn't quit. This horse has plenty of heart,” Ken Winebaugh said. “I don't think he has to be in front. He laid off the pace in the Proud Man and went to the lead (before getting caught by Hot Blooded).”

While agreeing with the consensus that Candy Man Rocket is the horse to beat, Winebaugh thinks the Sam F. Davis form could hold up. “I think those three horses from the Sam F. Davis will be the toughest. I don't see any newcomers who scare me too much,” he said.

Like any Florida-bred worth his salt, Boca Boy could benefit from rain that is forecast for Saturday. He has won twice on a sloppy track at Gulfstream, including a victory on Sept. 26 in the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association Florida Sire In Reality Stakes.

As a state-bred, Boca Boy is eligible for the race's $50,000 FTBOA money for registered Florida-breds. The last Florida-bred to win the Tampa Bay Derby was Watch Me Go in 2011.

Saturday's race appears similar to last year's Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby from the standpoint of the favorite being the Sam F. Davis winner – in 2020, Sole Volante. While the gelding ran well for a second-place finish, he could not catch 49-1 shot King Guillermo and Samy Camacho, who turned it on through the stretch for a 4 ¾-length victory.

King Guillermo's connections – Camacho, owner Victor Martinez's Victoria's Ranch and trainer Juan Carlos Avila – are back for another try with King of Dreams, who broke his maiden in his second start on Jan. 30 in a mile-and-a-sixteenth turf race at Gulfstream. King Guillermo had finished third in the Pulpit Stakes on the grass at Gulfstream in his previous start.

King of Dreams and Camacho will break from the No. 4 post. King Guillermo, who finished second in a division of last year's Grade I Arkansas Derby but has not won since the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, is entered in Saturday's Grade I Santa Anita Handicap.

Did you know that the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby field contains two unbeaten horses? Beside Super Strong, there is Helium, who won both of his starts last fall racing 7 furlongs on the synthetic Tapeta surface at Woodbine. Mark Casse, who won the 2012 Tampa Bay Derby with Prospective, is the trainer.

Off since his Display Stakes victory in October, Helium will break from the No. 10 post under Jose Ferrer.

In a Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby that seems as wide-open as any in the race's history, one shouldn't overlook My Liberty, assigned 30-1 morning-line odds. He is trained by Maria Ines Mejia and will break from the No. 1 post under jockey Tomas Mejia (no relation).

My Liberty broke his maiden sprinting 7 furlongs here on Feb. 12 and has the potential to set all his backers free by pulling the upset.

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Pletcher Tandem Of Prime Factor, Amount Jump Into Holy Bull Off Sharp Debut Wins

WinStar Farm LLC and CHC Inc.'s Prime Factor and Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Amount are scheduled to bring a combined total of two races of experience into Saturday's $200,000 Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

Jumping from maiden special weight company into a graded-stakes may be a lot to ask of lightly raced 3-year-olds, but their trainer, Todd Pletcher, has a history of success with late-developing colts during the winter months at Gulfstream.

The 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull, the first graded stakes for 3-year-olds on the Road to the Curlin Florida Derby presented by Hill 'n Dale at Xalapa Farm, will headline a 12-race program with five graded stakes worth $600,000 in purses. A qualifying race for the Kentucky Derby, the Holy Bull offers 17 points to the top four finishers (10-4-2-1).

“It's kind of that time of year where you have to see where you are,” Pletcher said.

The 16-time Championship Meet training champion visited the Florida Derby winner's circle with a pair of lightly raced 3-year-olds in 2014 and 2015. Constitution (2014) and Materiality (2015) both won their career debuts at Gulfstream on Jan. 11, captured their second starts against more experienced and established 3-year-olds, and won the Florida Derby within 11 weeks.

Prime Factor debuted at Gulfstream Dec. 12 with a stunning 8 ¼-length victory, running six furlongs in 1:10.38 while drawing away powerfully after closely stalking the early pace.

“He was brilliant in his debut and has trained sharply since then. We kind of considered going into an allowance race but that never materialized,” said Pletcher, who has saddled two winners of the Holy Bull, Algorithms (2012) and Audible (2018). “It's always a big step to go from maiden race against winners, giving up experience, but he can hopefully overcome it.”

Defending two-time Championship Meet titlist Irad Ortiz Jr. has the return mount on the son of Quality Road, who was purchased for $900,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September sale.

Amount overcame bumping at the starts of his Dec. 26 debut, rallying from off the pace to score by 5 ¾ lengths, completing seven furlongs in 1:24.68 under Ortiz Jr.

“His debut was very professional. Again, we were limited in options,” said Pletcher, who has saddled five Florida Derby winners. “I think, ultimately, he's a horse that will appreciate more distance,”

Luis Saez has the call aboard the son of Curlin, who was purchased at the 2020 OPS July 2-year-olds-in-training sale for $110,000.

Courtlandt Farms' Greatest Honour brings four-race experience into the Holy Bull. The Shug McGaughey-trained son of Tapit finished a late-closing third in his first two starts at sprint distances before showing marked improvement when stretching out around two turns in his two most recent starts. He was beaten by a neck while finishing second behind Known Agenda at Aqueduct at 1 1/8 miles, before graduating Dec. 26 at Gulfstream. He overcame bumping at the start and some traffic on the first turn before closing to graduate by 1 ½ lengths.

The homebred colt schooled in the paddock and walking ring during the second race at Gulfstream Wednesday.

“I'm very pleased with what I saw today, very pleased. He's developed a lot,” McGaughey said. “I was just sitting there thinking if, through the winter and spring, he keeps going in that direction, he'll be good.”

Jose Ortiz has the mount aboard Greatest Honour.

Albaugh Family Stables LLC's Sittin On Go, who launched his career with a debut victory and an impressive score in the Iroquois (G3), will seek to improve on off-the-board finishes in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Keeneland and Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs.

“He's ready for another big race,” trainer Dale Romans said. “He's sitting on go. He's had two good works. He's ready. If he's good enough, he'll run big.”

Corey Lanerie has the mount aboard the son of Brody's Cause.

Tarantino, who is a nose short of being undefeated in his three starts on turf, is slated to make his dirt debut in the Holy Bull. The son of Pioneerof the Nile broke his maiden at Del Mar before finishing second by a nose in the Zuma Beach at Santa Anita for trainer Bob Baffert. After being transferred to trainer Rodolphe Brissett, he captured a mile optional claiming allowance Dec. 11 at Gulfstream Park.

Edgard Zayas has the return call aboard Tarantino, who is owned by SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC and partners.

Magic Stables LLC's Papetu and John Fanelli and partners' Awesome Gerry, who finished second and third in the Jan. 2 Mucho Macho Man; OMGA Investments LLC and Off the Hook LLC's Jirafales, a 4 ¾-length debut winner at Gulfstream Park West; and Lea Farms LLC's Willy Boi, who is undefeated in two starts against Florida-bred opposition at Gulfstream, round out the field.

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