Zayat
Stable’s 3-year-old Eskendereya breezed an easy half-mile in 49 1/5 under
jockey John Velazquez Sunday morning at Palm Meadows for trainer Todd Pletcher
as he’s kept on edge for his likely next start as the favorite in the $750,000
Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream
Park on Sat., Mar. 20.
“I
thought he worked very well,” said Pletcher, who supervised workouts for nearly
20 stakes runners on Sunday morning from his powerful stable, getting ready for
major events coast-to-coast and another bound for Dubai.
“We were
looking for him to go a half in 49 and that’s exactly what he did. He galloped
out well and I’m very pleased. Our most likely scenario for him is to run in
the Florida Derby. He still has one work to go, but I don’t see any reason to
change anything at this point. That would be the logical thing to do.”
Eskendereya
is a chestnut colt by Giant’s Causeway purchased for $250,000 at the Keeneland
September yearling sales and has won both of his starts at Gulfstream this
season, most recently the $250,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2)
by 8 ½ lengths on Feb. 20.
The
stunning performance in the Fountain of Youth over the track and 1 1/8 miles
distance of the Florida Derby sent Eskendereya to the top of many Top 10
Kentucky Derby (G1) prospects lists and he is the ‘individual’ favorite among
23 quoted in the current Round Two Future Pool this weekend behind ‘The Field’
of all others.
Another
leading 3-year-old from the Pletcher team that has been mentioned as a possible
starter in the Florida Derby is WinStar Farm’s Rule, winner of the Sam Davis
Stakes (G3) last out at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 13. Rule worked five furlongs
in 1:01 1/5 in company with Stronach Stable’s 5-year-old Harlem Rocker, a
probable starter in next Saturday’s $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap (G2).
“He
(Rule) went five-eighths in 1:01 and went extremely well. I’d like to keep them
(Eskendereya and Rule) separated. I’ll have to talk to Elliott (Walden of
WinStar Farm), but the back up would be the Wood Memorial (Aqueduct on Apr.
3),” said Pletcher.
Other
Pletcher workers Sunday morning included:
- EE. Paul Robsham Stable’s
Discreetly Mine in 49 1/5 (Louisiana
Derby
(G2) at Fair Grounds on Mar. 27)
- Dogwood Stable’s Aikenite in
49 (Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland on Apr. 10)
- Twin Creek Racing Stable’s
Mission Impazible in 51 2/5 (Louisiana
Derby)
- WinStar Farm’s Super Saver in
1:00 3/5 (Tampa Bay Derby (G3) on Mar. 13)
- Wertheimer et Frere’s
Interactif in 49 4/5 (San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita on Mar. 13,
pending suitable travel arrangements)
- Anstu Stable’s Ibboyee in 49
4/5 (Swale Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream
Park
on Mar. 20)
- Glencrest Farm’s Devil May
Care in 48 1/5 (Bonnie Miss Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream
Park
on Mar. 20)
- Mrs. John Magnier, Michael
Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Munnings in 1:00 4/5 (nominated for Gulfstream
Park Handicap, possible for Carter Handicap (G1) at Aqueduct on Apr. 3)
- Starlight Stable’s Take the
Points in 1:01 (Dubai Duty Free Stakes (G1) at Meydan Race Course on Mar.
27)
Pletcher
also reported that Tabor, Magnier and Smith’s Connemara, winner of the El
Camino Real Derby (G3) last out at Golden Gate Fields on Feb. 20, remains with
his satellite division at Santa Anita currently, but will ship back east to
start next in the Lane’s End Stakes (G2) at Turfway
Park
on Mar. 27.
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