Tag: Triple Crown

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Forte, the 2022 juvenile champion who made an auspicious 2023 debut in the Feb. 4 Fountain of Youth (G2), is prominent on a list of 23 3-year-olds nominated to the $1-million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa April 1 at Gulfstream Park.

The 72nd running of the Florida Derby, a history-rich 1 1/8-mile Triple Crown prep, will be featured on a program with 10 stakes, including five graded stakes.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Forte professionally negotiated traffic and a wide trip on his way to a dominating 4½-length Fountain of Youth win at Gulfstream, backing up a stellar 2-year-old season, during which he captured three straight Grade 1 stakes – the Hopeful at Saratoga, the Breeders' Futurity and Breeders' Cup Juvenile, both at Keeneland.

Pletcher has saddled a record six Florida Derby winners; Scat Daddy, (2007), Constitution (2014), Materiality (2015), Always Dreaming (2017), Audible (2018) and Known Agenda (2021).

Whisper Hill Farm LLC's Tapit Trice, the winner of the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) who is likely to return in the April 8 Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland, and Classic Catch, a recent allowance winner at Gulfstream, also represent Pletcher on the Florida Derby nominations list.

Albaugh Family Stable LLC's Cyclone Mischief, who set the pace before giving way late to finish third in the Fountain of Youth; and West Paces Racing LLC' and Stonestreet Stables LLC's Dubyuhnell, the winner of last season's Remsen (G2) at Belmont; are among the nominees already scheduled to start in the Florida Derby. Cyclone Mischief,, a son of Into Mischief, is trained by Dale Romans

Frank Fletcher Racing Operations, Inc.'s Rocket Can, who finished second behind Forte in the Fountain of Youth after capturing the Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream, was nominated to the Florida Derby by Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott but is not listed among the probable starters. Mott-trained Jungfrau, a son of Arrogate who finished off the board in the Withers (G3) at Aqueduct after breaking his maiden for Juddmonte, is a candidate to return in the Florida Derby.

OGMA Investments and partner's Mage, who finished fourth in the Fountain of Youth following an eye-catching debut victory at Gulfstream, has been nominated to the Florida Derby by trainer Gustavo Delgado, who is also looking at the April 8 Blue Grass at Keeneland for the son of Good Magic.

Trainer Tim Yakteen is represented on the Florida Derby nominations list by three horses, Reincarnate, National Treasure, and Fort Bragg. The trio of formerly trained by Bob Baffert and owned by SF Racing and partners are scheduled to race in stakes elsewhere.

Gary Barber's Classic Car Wash, who finished second in the Tampa Bay Derby, was nominated to the Florida Derby but is expected to race elsewhere.

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. is represented on the nominations list by seven 3-year-olds, including West Coast Cowboy, Lord Miles, Mr. Peeks, Mr. Ripple, Nautical Star, Prairie Hawk, and Run Cory Run.

The Florida Derby will be supported on the April 1 card by the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), the $200,000 Pan American (G2), the $150,000 Orchid (G2), the $150,0000 Ghostzapper (G3), the $150,000 Appleton, the $150,000 Sand Springs; the $100,000 Sanibel Island, the $100,000 Cutler Bay and the $100,000 Sir Shackleton.

The post Champion Forte Tops 23 Nominations To Florida Derby appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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With less than three weeks until the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 8, the contenders are ratcheting up their training.

On Sunday, both National Treasure and Skinner worked five furlongs in preparation for the 1 1/8-mile test that also serves as a final local prep for the Kentucky Derby (G1). A day earlier, Geaux Rocket Ride had his first work since finishing second in the San Felipe (G2) March 4.

National Treasure, who was the morning-line favorite in the San Felipe but was scratched due to a bruised foot, drilled five furlongs in 1:00 for trainer Tim Yakteen. National Treasure returned to the work tab this past Tuesday following the setback with a six-furlong move in 1:11.80.

National Treasure is among a trio of top 3-year-olds trained by Yakteen. On Saturday, stablemates Practical Move and Reincarnate each worked.

Following the drills, Yakteen said Practical Move, winner of the San Felipe, would most likely stay here and run in the Santa Anita Derby. In turn, Reincarnate would probably head back to Oaklawn Park —where he was a troubled third in the Rebel (G2) — to run in the Arkansas Derby (G1) on April 1.

On Sunday, Yakteen, said National Treasure would run in either the Santa Anita Derby or Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland on April 8.

“He had a very nice work this morning, very happy,” Yakteen added.

Skinner's five-furlong work was completed in 1:01.60 for trainer John Shirreffs, who confirmed Skinner was on track for the Satna Anita Derby. The son of Curlin was third in the San Felipe, beaten 3 ¾ lengths by Practical Move.

The post National Treasure, Geaux Rocket Ride, Skinner Gear Up For Santa Anita Derby appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Japanese trainer Terunobu Fujita was on hand at Santa Anita getting the lay of the land ahead of his historic participation in the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) April 8 with Japan-bred Mandarin Hero.

Fujita, 46, will be the first trainer from Japan's National Association of Racing to start a horse in the U.S. when Mandarin Hero makes his first U.S. start in the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby. Japan's NAR circuit is comprised of regional tracks that race mostly on dirt. It is generally considered to be a notch below that of the more prominent Japan Racing Association, which races mostly on turf.

Mandarin Hero was a perfect 4-for-4 last year as a 2-year-old and in one start this year was a fast-closing second in a 1 1/8-mile stakes on Feb. 23. All five of his races were run at Oi Racecourse in Tokyo.

Oi Racecourse and Santa Anita have had a “sister track” relationship going back decades. Each October, Santa Anita partners with Oi to hold a “Japan Family Day” in Arcadia, California featuring the Tokyo City Cup (G3). In turn, Oi each November hosts a “Santa Anita Week” with the featured race being the Santa Anita Trophy.

]In 2018, a program was implemented where horses at Oi could earn qualifying points for the Santa Anita Derby through designated races. Mandarin Hero dominated the series this campaign.

While enjoying the races trackside on Saturday, Fujita said, “It was my dream to have a horse run in the Santa Anita Derby.v“I knew right after Mandarin Hero's maiden win I wanted to come to Santa Anita.”

This was not Fujita's first trip to Santa Anita. In 2010, just as he was opening his stable in Japan, he spent a week at Santa Anita “to look around and study American racing.”

Mandarin Hero is slated to touch down at LAX on March 29 following a 10-hour direct flight from Tokyo via U.S. Equine.

Presuming there are no issues with quarantine, Mandarin Hero should be on the grounds at Santa Anita by noon on March 31.

Owned by Hiroaki Arai, Mandarin Hero is a dark brown colt from the first Japanese crop of Shanghai Bobby, North America's champion 2-year-old male of 2012. Shanghai Bobby spent his first five seasons at stud in Central Kentucky before being sold to Japanese interests in 2018.

Fujita said Arai was initially hesitant to send Mandarin Hero to the U.S.

“I asked the owner at the end of last year, 'Can we go to Santa Anita?' He didn't want to come,” Fujita recalled. “But after Mandarin Hero's last race, he said, 'Let's go.'

“It was big news in Japan,” Fujita added. “I'm very proud of that.”

Through his first five starts, Mandarin Hero's running style has been to come from off the pace. In the Santa Anita Derby, Fujita plans to use a jockey from the local colony.

“He has really good acceleration in the final stretch,” Fujita said. “I think he probably cannot handle the early pace, but he really likes to chase down other horses.”

If Mandarin Hero were to finish first or second in the Santa Anita Derby, he would likely earn enough qualifying points to move on to the Kentucky Derby.

“That would be a dream come true,” Fujita said.

The Santa Anita Derby will be part of a blockbuster card on April 8. Also scheduled are the Grade II Santa Anita Oaks, GII Charles Whittingham and both the Echo Eddie and Evening Jewel for Calfornia-breds.

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