All of the major runners in Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby preps have come out of their respective races well according to releases by Aqueduct, Oaklawn and Gulfstream Park.
GIII Holy Bull S. winner Hades (Awesome Slew) still had his connections flying high the morning after his upset win over 'TDN Rising Star' and Eclipse champion Fierceness (City of Light).
“He galloped out really strong [yesterday],” trainer Joe Orseno told Gulfstream Park media Sunday morning. “I don't think we got to the bottom of him yet. We're real happy with him, especially the way he looked this morning.”
As for future starts, Orseno added, “There's no question it will be the Fountain of Youth or the Florida Derby. I think it will be only one, but I don't know which one it will be yet. He's lightly raced. He's only run 5 1/2 [furlongs] and 7, and [Saturday] two turns. I think that being said, we have the opportunity to have a fresh horse on the first Saturday in May.”
In New York, the Pennsylvania-bred Uncle Heavy (Social Inclusion), winner of the GIII Withers S., also responded well following his efforts Saturday.
“He came out of it very well, and I'm very happy with him,” said trainer Butch Reid, Jr. “He was very sharp and bouncing around the barn last night. He'll get a few days of rest on the farm, which will be nice.”
Reid Jr. indicated that, while future plans regarding a next start are still up for discussion, connections are considering the GII Wood Memorial S. April 6.
At Oaklawn Park, the GIII Southwest S. winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents) is, per trainer Kenny McPeek, already being pointed at the GI Arkansas Derby after previously finishing fifth in the Smarty Jones S. Jan 1.
“We had a good feeling before the race,” said owner/breeder Lance Gasaway. “He wasn't ready for the long race, the Smarty Jones. He needed the race, so we felt pretty confident coming into the race. He [McPeek] can do it.”
Southwest runner up Just Steel (Justify) will make his next start in the GII Rebel S. Feb. 24 according to his trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
“He's still carrying a little weight,” Lukas said. “He's a big, powerful horse and I think with racing, he'll drop some of that weight and he'll be a little bit better at finishing. I look forward to the next one [Rebel]. That one should be starting to get us where we want to be. I think he needs racing.”
Trainer Robert Medina noted that Saturday's third-place finisher Liberal Arts (Arrogate) will join Mystik Dan in bypassing the Rebel and likely going straight to the Arkansas Derby.
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