Trainer Tim Yakteen reported on Sunday that Practical Move was in good order following his victory in the San Felipe (G2).
“He's doing great. Everything checked out,” said Yakteen, who also on Saturday won a state-bred allowance with the highly promising 3-year-old Kangaroo Court.
Practical Move, who earned a 100 Beyer Speed Figure for Saturday effort, was one of five horses entered by Yakteen in the San Felipe. National Treasure, the morning-line favorite, had to be scratched the morning of the race due to a bruised foot. Yakteen said the injury had been treated and “he's doing much better this morning. We're all good.” He did not indicate when and where National Treasure could resurface.
Yakteen's other San Felipe starters – fourth-place finisher Hejazi, fifth-place finisher Fort Bragg and sixth-place finisher Mr Fisk – all emerged no worse for wear, the trainer said.
As for Practical Move, he earned 50 more qualifying points towards this year's Kentucky Derby for his 2½-length win in the San Felipe under Ramon Vazquez. Combined with the 10 points he earned for winning Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) on Dec. 17, he now ranks second on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 60 points total. Forte, a smashing winner of Saturday's Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park for trainer Todd Pletcher, earned a lofty 100 Beyer and leads all 3-year-olds with 90 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.
Practical Move likely already has enough points to qualify for the Kentucky Derby on May 6, but Yakteen said the plan is for him to have one more start prior to the 1 ¼-mile classic at Churchill Downs. It will likely be the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 8, which awards Kentucky Derby qualifying points on a scale of 100-40-30-20-10 to the top-five finishers.
Yakteen's other winner Saturday, Kangaroo Court, could not have been more impressive when sizzling six furlongs in 1:08.79 under Abel Cedillo. The Dads Caps gelding, who earned a 95 Beyer, was making his first start since a smashing 14¼-length maiden win at Del Mar on Aug. 20.
Yakteen said Kangaroo Court “will probably stay around one turn for now.” He mentioned the $150,000 Echo Eddie for 3-year-old state-breds going 6½ furlongs on April 8 as a potential next start.
“That seems like a logical step,” Yakteen said.
Yakteen, a former assistant to Bob Baffert, now has 278 wins in a career that dates back to 2004. He acknowledged Saturday's success was among the highlights of his time as a trainer.
“Those 3-year-old races are always highlights, that's what we're in the game for,” Yakteen said. “Everybody wants to win the Kentucky Derby.”
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