Florida Derby Contenders Dunkirk, Theregoesjojo & Beethoven Work at Gulfstream Park
Susan Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor’s Dunkirk posted his latest workout Saturday morning at Gulfstream‘s Palm Meadows Training Center as trainer Todd Pletcher prepares him for his first career stakes attempt in Saturday’s $750,000 Florida Derby (gr. I) March 28 at Gulfstream Park.
The 2009 Florida Derby is South Florida’s premier prep race for the Kentucky Derby 135 where its purse can secure the Florida Derby winner a spot in the Kentucky Derby entries list.
The 3-year-old son of Unbridled’s Song, Dunkirk, breezed 5 furlongs in 1:01 2/5 under exercise rider Patti Barry. Race horse trainer Todd Pletcher caught the colt’s last quarter-mile in 23 4/5.
Dunkirk’s owners paid $3.7 million for him at the Keeneland September Yearling Sales in 2007 and so far, the colt has been very impressive in maiden and allowance-race victories January 24 and February 19 respectively.
The two performances have been enough to make Dunkirk co-favored in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) future wager’s Pool 2 going into a major weekend of prep races.
“I guess it looks like the public has the same opinion of this horse that we do,” said Todd Pletcher. “He’s been very impressive in his two starts and he has the pedigree to go along with the ability that he’s shown.”
Pletcher indicated Dunkirk’s next two weeks ahead of the Florida Derby would be “straightforward” with a final breezing workout slated for next Saturday, weather permitting.
Theregoesjojo Drills For The Florida Derby
With 2 weeks to go until the Florida Derby, Samotowka Stables’ Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) runner-up Theregoesjojo displayed what is becoming a trademark quick turn of foot in his latest workout Saturday morning at Gulfstream Park.
The 3-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Brahms, Theregoesjojo, coasted through most of his 5-furlong drill under exercise rider Amanda Tamburello in company with maiden Glitterman’s Cartel until the eighth pole. That’s when Tamburello asked Theregoesjojo for his move. He responded by drawing away from his workmate in a matter of a few strides, crossing the finish line in 1:01 4/5.
Assistant to race horse trainer Ken McPeek, Billy Wright said he clocked Theregoesjojo’s final eighth in 11 3/5.
Theregoesjojo has a 7-furlong allowance race victory on his resume from earlier this meet when he defeated Quality Road by 2 3/4 lengths January 10. The 2 reversed that exacta in the Fountain of Youth Stakes February 28, with Quality Road scoring by 4 1/4 lengths in the 1-mile rematch. Both Quality Road and Theregoesjojo are expected to be Florida Derby contenders.
Beethoven Works For Florida Derby
John Oxley’s leading 3-year-old Floriday Derby contender Beethoven is getting stronger each day and displayed some of that Saturday morning at Gulfstream Park with a 5-furlong workout 2 weeks out from the 2009 Florida Derby.
“He looks like Sylvester Stallone,” said race horse trainer John Ward. “He is really muscling up right now.”
John Ward sent the Kentucky-bred son of Sky Mesa, Beethoven, into Saturday’s drill looking for some of that strength, but also some controllability. After a jog, and then galloping once around Gulfstream’s 1 1/8 miles main track with Graded stakes-placed Dr. Pleasure acting something like a pony, exercise rider Bulent Muhcu shook Beethoven into action and they cruised through steady fractions to an official clocking of 59 4/5.
Ward caught the 7-furlong gallop out in 1:27, but said he told Muhcu by radio to back off the colt through the stretch.
Beethoven was very nervous in the paddock before his most recent start when third in the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) and developed a considerable sweat ahead of that race. He was sweaty again Saturday morning and stopped 3 times from the barn to the track, but Ward is dismissing those things as signs his athlete is developing.
“He’s like one of those basketball players that never plays well in the first six minutes of a game,” he said. “Those guys don’t get going until they’ve got a sweat going and they’re all warmed up. He’s like that too.”
Ward said Beethoven would be back on track next Saturday for his final workout before the Florida Derby.
Horse racing news edited from www.gulfstreampark.com.
Tags: Beethoven, Dunkirk, Theregoesjojo
"Florida Derby Contenders Dunkirk, Theregoesjojo & Beethoven Work at Gulfstream Park" was posted on 15 March 2009 9:21 PM under Horse Racing News, Horses, Race Tracks, Stakes Races, Triple Crown
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