Big points available in two races
A handful of leading Kentucky Derby hopefuls will look to pick up major points this weekend when graded stakes points races will be run at Aqueduct in New York and Gulfstream Park in South Florida.
The field for the 11⁄ 16- mile Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream will include Gunnevera and Practical Joke, who are tied for eighth place in the Derby points standings with 14 each. The winner of the Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth will be awarded 50 points, and second place can collect 20.
Also in the strong field is unbeaten Irish War Cry, who has 10 points. Irish War Cry, the son of Curlin and winner of the Holy Bull Stakes, is ranked second in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s 3year-old poll; Gunnevera is at No. 10.
Graham Motion, who trains Irish War Cry, was happy with his colt’s latest work.
“I think everything went as well as I could have hoped for,” Motion told Gulfstream publicity. “I told (exercise rider) David (Nava) just to sit off his partner a little bit for the early part. ... He finished up very good. I had told David to make sure he galloped out strong. I wanted to be sure he got something out of it. I think it was about perfect, really.”
About 1,100 miles north at Aque- duct in Ozone Park, N.Y., the $300,000, Grade 3 Gotham, also at 11⁄ miles on the inner track at Aque16 duct, will include Derby hopefuls El Areeb (20 points) and True Timber (6). The winner of this race also earns 50 points and a likely spot in the Run for the Roses.
El Areeb, the son of Exchange Rate and trained by Cathal Lynch, has won his last four races, including most recently the Grade 3 Withers and Jerome Stakes, both at Aqueduct.
Girvin wins Risen Star:
Unheralded Girvin likely sewed up a spot in the Kentucky Derby with an impressive 2-length victory Saturday against Untrapped in the Risen Star Stakes at the Fairgrounds in New Orleans in just his second race on dirt.
Girvin, an 8-1 shot, could give trainer Joe Sharp his first Kentucky Derby entry. Girvin collected 50 points for the victory and is almost ensured of a spot in the 20-horse field at Churchill Downs on May 6.