One horse dumped his rider early, and at the finish, one horse was far and away the best. Run on a muddy and sealed track at Aqueduct, the race was a bit ugly. I’ll be generous and say that both Geaux Rocket Ride and Skinner showed enough Saturday to remain as possible Kentucky Derby contenders. Making only his second start, he stayed on well to finish a clear second. Geaux Rocket Ride is an interesting one for trainer Richard Mandella. Skinner made a sustained wide rally but could not quite sustain his momentum late. Of the rest, all of the former Baffert runners appear to be distance challenged. He seems to be getting better with each start and looks legitimate.
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The fourth choice took full advantage.įor the son of Practical Joke, out of a stakes-placed Afleet Alex mare, the 2 1/2-length win was a professional performance and was his second straight graded-stakes score. The Tim Yakteen-trained Practical Move enjoyed a dream trip when the rail opened up wide for his rail run. Unlike at Gulfstream, where Forte was a big favorite, the California prep was much wider open. Next is the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe at Santa Anita. Shadow Dragon produced no real rally.Īfter Forte, only Rocket Can, who kept trying between horses to prove second best, looked like a horse who should be in the Kentucky Derby starting gate. Cyclone Mischief improved off his last but was not exactly strong down the lane. Mage showed talent in his second career start but still has a long way to go to be a Derby horse. In so doing, he clearly established himself as the current Kentucky Derby favorite.īut what of the rest of the field? Blazing Sevens never lifted a hoof. would ask him to go.Īlways looking like a winner, Forte raised his career record to 5-of-6 by swinging out wide and blowing by his competition for an easy-as-he-pleased 4 1/2-length win in the Grade 2 affair. Comfortable in mid-pack early, it was just a matter of when rider Irad Ortiz Jr. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the son of Violence was everything his connections could have hoped for in his 3-year-old debut. The final prep for the Florida Derby featured the returning champion Forte as he squared off against eight other Kentucky Derby hopefuls. Gulfstream Park’s Fountain of Youth is an obvious place to start.
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