Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
GULFSTREAM Classic Empire, McCraken back on work tab
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Classic Empire and McCraken have a lot in common. The two top-ranked 3-year-olds on this week’s Derby Watch list have spent the winter at the Palm Meadows training center, where they’ve both encountered minor issues that forced them to miss some training time.
Both are being pointed to the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes on April 8, and both turned in important works over the weekend that had their connections smiling.
Classic Empire breezed four furlongs in 48.80 seconds before galloping out five-eighths in 1:01.80 on Sunday. The work was the first for the reigning 2-year-old male champion since his disappointing third-place finish in the Grade 2 Holy Bull on Jan. 28.
“This was a very important work today,” said Norman Casse, assistant to his father, trainer Mark Casse. “We had to get this done, and I thought he looked as good as he’s ever looked. He was moving effortlessly. It was his first important step moving forward. We can’t have any more hiccups.”
Classic Empire exited his 3-year-old debut in the Holy Bull with an abscess in his right front foot. His first attempt to breeze once the foot had healed had come nine days earlier at Palm Meadows, but the quirky colt refused to break off under jockey Julien Leparoux and returned to the barn showing signs of discomfort in his back. His regular exercise rider, E.J. Bowler, was aboard to work Classic Empire on Sunday.
“He’s a hard horse to figure,” Norman Casse said Sunday. “It’s anybody’s guess why he does the things he does. His back was certainly sore. We had a bunch of people come in and take a look at him, did the proper adjustments. He’s a much happier horse since and had a really good week prior to working this morning. Hopefully, he’ll be able to continue in this capacity.”
McCraken breezed an easier half-mile in 50.20 on Saturday. It was his first work since his victory in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 11. McCraken was originally scheduled to return last Saturday in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby but was forced to skip the race after missing some training time due to a minor ankle issue.
“It was a good maintenance work,” trainer Ian Wilkes said. “He galloped out in another 12 flat. I’m very pleased with him. The ankle thing was very minor. He just missed that one work. I could have pushed and ran him, but I didn’t see the point. If I didn’t have the race in the Sam Davis, we’d be in trouble. But he should be fine just having one more start [before the Kentucky Derby].”
McCraken was scheduled to ship to Keeneland this week.
Another member of the Derby Watch list stabled locally, Battalion Runner, had a more serious work Saturday, going six furlongs in 1:13.80 at Palm Beach Downs. Trainer Todd Pletcher is pointing both Battalion Runner and Always Dreaming to the Grade 1 Florida Derby on April 1, although he noted that only one is likely to start since St. Elias Stable owns all or a portion of both horses.
◗ Curlin’s Approval, who figures to be a heavy favorite in Saturday’s Grade 2 Inside Information, had her final tune-up for the race Monday, blowing out an easy three furlongs in 36.16 seconds at Gulfstream Park. The winner of the Grade 2 Royal Delta galloped out a halfmile in a strong 48.78 under regular exercise rider Elmer Nunez.
A small field is shaping up for the seven-furlong Inside Information, which also will include the Gilberto Zerpa-trained Dearest and Danessa Again. Dearest became a graded stakes winner with a onelength victory in the Grade 3, six-furlong Sugar Swirl on Dec. 17, her fourth win in five starts over the local strip.
◗ A carryover of $494,569 will be on the line in the Rainbow 6 pool when racing resumes Wednesday. The jackpot has gone unhit for 13 consecutive days.