Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Florida Derby could end up Fountain of Youth rematch
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Nominations for the $1 million Florida Derby were to be released late Wednesday, with only seven to eight expected to start from the list of about 25 nominees.
The top three finishers from the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth – Gunnevera, Practical Joke, and Three Rules – could meet again April 1 in the nine-furlong Florida Derby, although trainer Chad Brown has not confirmed Practical Joke as a definite starter. Likewise, Todd Pletcher has not committed Battalion Runner and Always Dreaming, although both are expected to be entered.
Trainer Dale Romans has listed both J Boys Echo and Impressive Edge as possible Florida Derby starters, while trainer Patrick Biancone said Wednesday he is considering running his Florida-bred maiden winner Unbridled Holiday.
“He’ll work Friday, and we’ll make a decision after that,” said Biancone.
Unbridled Holiday is coming off a third-place finish behind Always Dreaming in a ninefurlong allowance race here March 4.
“I think the more distance, the better for my horse,” Biancone said. “He’s more of a mileand-one-quarter, mile-and-onehalf type of horse, with more hope in the Belmont than a race like this. But he is improving, and the experience couldn’t hurt him.”
Beasley has ankle surgery
Trainer Mark Hennig said that his promising 3-year-old Beasley underwent surgery Monday to remove an ankle chip diagnosed following his fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby on March 11. Beasley, a son of Shackleford, was beaten eight lengths by Tapwrit after bobbling at the break and racing wide.
Beasley had a win and two seconds in three starts prior to making his stakes debut at Tampa. Prior to the Tampa Bay Derby, Beasley extended the odds-on Battalion Runner through a long stretch duel before dropping a 1 1/4-length decision while going 1 1/8 miles here Feb. 3.
“We had options but felt like the best thing to do was to have the surgery to do right by the horse,” said Hennig. “Patty Hogan did the surgery, and she said if all goes well, he can be back to us in four weeks and theoretically be back under tack by Derby time. He ran a better figure on the Rag sheets in the Tampa Bay Derby than in any of his previous races.
“He’s run faster every time, and I thought he ran well considering the pretty horrendous break and how wide he was that day. I’m excited about the prospect of getting him right and how good a latesummer and fall campaign we might have to look forward to.”
Hennig will be in action here Saturday when he sends out Cursor for her 3-year-old debut in the $75,000 Any Limit Stakes. Cursor, by Quality Road, has not started since finishing fourth in the Grade 3 Tempted at Aqueduct on Nov. 25. She was an impressive maiden winner at the sevenfurlong distance of the Any Limit in her previous start.
“We had to stop on her a little bit after the Tempted,” said Hennig, who trains Cursor for Courtlandt Farms. “She started back in training in mid-December and hasn’t had any hiccups. She’s come along nicely this winter. Ultimately, I think she wants to run a little farther, but this looks like a decent starting point.”
Hennig has named Jose Ortiz aboard Cursor in the Any Limit. Trainer Kathleen O’Connell’s speedy and undefeated Who’s the Lady will top a lineup that also includes Fashion Runaway and the supplementary entrants Truge, Colorincolonel, and Mia.
The Grade 3 Skip Away also came up light for Saturday, with Zulu, the runner-up in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth here last winter, and Team Colors, the runner-up in the Skip Away a year ago, the two leading contenders.