Fields for Keeneland’s two marquee spring events for 3-year-olds are taking shape with six horses deemed probable for the Toyota Blue Grass (G1) on April 10 and seven fillies considered probable for Saturday’s Central Bank Ashland (G1), according to racing secretary Ben Huffman.
Heading the list of Toyota Blue Grass probables is Padua Stables’ Odysseus, winner of the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) in his most recent start. Trained by Tom Albertrani, Odysseus is expected to arrive at Keeneland on April 4.
Other probables include the Todd Pletcher-trained duo of Aikenite, owned by Dogwood Stable, and Wertheimer and Frere’s Interactif; Ellen and Peter Johnson’s Make Music for Me, Bred to Win Partners LLC’s Codoy and Donegal Racing’s Paddy O’Prado. Paddy O’Prado, trained by Dale Romans, worked five furlongs in :59.80 over Keeneland’s Polytrack surface on Saturday and returned to the track to jog twice around on Monday under Mary Doser.
Considered as possible for the Toyota Blue Grass by Huffman are Sam-Son Farms’ Giant’s Tomb and Louis Lazzinnaro and partners’ Homeboykris.
The 1-2 finishers from last fall’s Darley Alcibiades (G1), Negligee and champion She Be Wild, top Huffman’s list of seven probables for the Central Bank Ashland. Entries for the 1 1/16-mile race will be drawn Wednesday.
Owned by Sovereign Stable, Negligee will be making her 2010 debut in the Central Bank Ashland. Trained by John Terranova, Negligee is scheduled to work a half-mile Tuesday morning at Keeneland. Nancy Mazzoni’s She Be Wild, trained by Wayne Catalano, had her final work for the Central Bank Ashland on Saturday, covering seven furlongs in 1:29.
Other probables for the Central Bank Ashland, according to Huffman, are Peter Callahan’s Beautician, Jack Swain III’s Apple Charlotte, the Braly Family Trust’s Evening Jewel, Alex Campbell Jr.’s It’s Tea Time and Stone Farm, John Adger, Oak Crest Farm and Michael Stidham’s Upperline. Considered as possible is Westrock Stables’ Decelerator.
CODOY POINTED AT TOYOTA BLUE GRASS
Bred to Win Partners LLC’s Codoy, who has made all seven career starts on Polytrack or turf, will make his next start in the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G1) on April 10, confirmed trainer Mark Hubley on Monday morning.
“I’m pretty convinced that he cannot run on dirt,” Hubley said about the Bernstein colt. “He likes Poly; he’s probably better on grass. I see a lot of purse and a Grade 1 (in the Toyota Blue Grass).
“I also think this horse can get better the longer he goes. A mile and an eighth (of the Toyota Blue Grass) is better than a mile and a sixteenth.”
After running a third and two seconds on turf in the first three races of his career, Codoy tried Polytrack for the first time last September at Turfway Park, winning at a mile. Back on turf at Keeneland, he finished second at odds of 77-1 to Interactif in the Bourbon (G3). In his next race, Codoy was 12th behind Pounced in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Santa Anita.
Codoy made his 2010 debut on February 27 at Turfway and crossed the finish line first in the 1 1/16-mile John Battaglia Memorial Stakes but was disqualified to second for interference.
Last Thursday, Codoy turned in his second consecutive work at Keeneland, covering five furlongs in 1:02.
“He worked very well,” said Hubley, who has horses stabled at Keeneland and at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington. “He sat behind another horse. He galloped out very strong.”
Hubley said Codoy would work again on Friday morning. He has not determined which jockey would ride the colt in the Toyota Blue Grass.
Hubley bought Codoy for $105,000 at the 2008 Keeneland September Yearling Sale from the consignment of Mt. Brilliant Farm, agent. He trains the colt for Bred to Win Partners LLC of brothers Jimmy and Larry Doyle and Frank Costa and his daughter, Kitty. Hubley said Kitty Costa combined the owners’ last names to name the colt.
LEZCANO TO RIDE SHE BE WILD IN CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND
Jose Lezcano will ride Nancy Mazzoni’s champion She Be Wild for the first time in Saturday’s Central Bank Ashland (G1), according to trainer Wayne Catalano.
“Julien will be in New York,” Catalano said, referring to Julien Leparoux, who rode She Be Wild in her two most recent races that include a win in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). On Saturday, Leparoux will be at Aqueduct to ride Awesome Act in the Wood Memorial (G1).
Leparoux was the leading rider at the 2009 Keeneland spring season with 27 wins. He went on to earn the Eclipse Award as outstanding jockey of the year.
Lezcano, who won this year’s Florida Derby (G1) on Ice Box, was the sixth-leading rider by wins at Gulfstream Park through Sunday.
HOT CHA CHA GEARING UP FOR 2010 DEBUT IN JENNY WILEY
Nelson McMakin’s Hot Cha Cha, winner of last fall’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1), is expected to make her 2010 debut in the $200,000 Jenny Wiley (G2) at 1 1/16 miles on the turf on April 10.
“That’s the plan right now,” trainer Phil Sims said of Hot Cha Cha, who has not raced since a fourth-place finish in the Mrs. Revere (G2) in November at Churchill Downs. “She got some time on the farm after that and then came back to the barn at the end of January.”
Hot Cha Cha worked six furlongs in 1:15.40 on Saturday and is scheduled for a five-furlong work this coming Saturday, according to Sims. No filly has won the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup and come back the following spring to win the Jenny Wiley.
GALLOPING OUT
WinStar Farm’s Endorsement, winner of Sunday’s $800,000 Sunland Park Derby (G3), is scheduled to ship to Keeneland on Tuesday, according to Elliott Walden, racing manager for WinStar. “He will be here for a couple of weeks and (trainer) Shannon (Ritter) will make the decision on when to ship over to Churchill Downs.” … Nominations for four graded stakes, including the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile, close Wednesday. The $300,000 Maker’s Mark Mile, won last year by Mr. Sidney, will be run Friday, April 9. The other three stakes will be run on Saturday, April 10 as part of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) card. They are the $250,000 Commonwealth (G2), won last year by Eternal Star; the $200,000 Jenny Wiley (G2), won last year by champion Forever Together; and the $100,000 Shakertown (G3), won last year by Heros Reward.
