Santa Anita Derby Entries The Pamplemousse, Pioneerof the Nile, Chocolate Candy Work at Santa Anita Park
Kentucky Derby hopefuls The Pamplemousse, Pioneerof the Nile and Chocolate Candy had their final work for the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on Tuesday at Santa Anita Park‘s Pro-Ride.
The Pamplemousse went 3 furlongs under regular jockey Alex Solis in :34.80; Pioneerof the Nile went 4 furlongs under former jockey Joey Steiner in :47.60; and Chocolate Candy went 4 furlongs under jockey Joel Rosario in :48.60.
The 2009 Santa Anita Derby is a prep race for the Kentucky Derby 135 where the Santa Anita Derby winner can be assured a spot in the Kentucky Derby field.
“The work was really good,” said jockey Alex Solis, who also is up again this year for election to racing’s Hall of Fame. “He was nice and relaxed.”
Julio Canani, trainer of one of the leading Kentucky Derby contenders The Pamplemousse, said about drawing the No. 10 post position, “I won two Breeders’ Cup races from No. 12, so it doesn’t mean anything.”
Bob Baffert said his charge, Pioneerof the Nile, “is coming up to a big race. We’ve already punched our ticket to the big dance (2009 Kentucky Derby, referring to graded earnings), so we’re comfortable with that. This is not a two-horse race. Chocolate Candy is a good horse, and so is Mr. Hot Stuff. We’re taking this very seriously.”
Added jockey Garrett Gomez, who rides Pioneerof the Nile: “He’s very versatile… If you watch his races, he’s come from all over the place (to win), and that’s one of his assets.”
Assistant to Jerry Hollendorfer, Dan Ward said Chocolate Candy was coming into the race “perfect. It will be ideal to have some pace to run at.”
Feisty Suances, 15-1 on the morning line for the Santa Anita Derby, worked 4 furlongs under jockey Victor Espinoza on Santa Anita’s training track Wednesday in :48.40 for Darrell Vienna. “He worked really well,” the trainer said.
Mike McCarthy, assistant to Todd Pletcher, said Take the Points was “not definite to run. We’ll take a look at the race over the next few days. Our first alternative, should we scratch, would be the Blue Grass Stakes (April 11 at Keeneland).”
Horse racing news edited from www.santaanita.com.
Tags: Chocolate Candy, Feisty Suances, Pioneerof the Nile, Take the Points, The Pamplemousse
"Santa Anita Derby Entries The Pamplemousse, Pioneerof the Nile, Chocolate Candy Work at Santa Anita Park" was posted on 2 April 2009 10:18 PM under Horse Racing News, Horses, Race Tracks, Stakes Races, Triple Crown
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