Kentucky Derby 2018 Daily: Swale Stakes a proving ground

We’ve written plenty in this space about 2018 Kentucky Derby hopefuls in a trio of points-paying preps going Saturday, but there’s reason to pay attention to another stakes at Gulfstream Park, too. Multiple runners in the Grade 3 Swale Stakes, going seven furlongs, have connections with an interest in hitting the trail.

• Strike Power has 7-5 morning line favoritism with just one start to his name. Why? Well, in that race he came within .33 seconds of Gulfstream Park’s 5 1/2-furlong record and notched a 102 Beyer Speed Figure. That number was second only to Bolt d’Oro’s 103 in the Grade 1 FrontRunner for all 2-year-olds in 2017.

“It was a really nice debut,” said trainer Mark Hennig. “Hopefully he can run something equivalent to that.”

It’s likely that anything close would result in a victory around one turn. A son of Speightstown, Strike Power could then try two.

• Tricks To Doo, a $600,000 purchase, first made headlines last October by winning at second asking despite racing with a broken rein. The Arnaud Delacour charge went on to win Tampa Bay Downs’ Dec. 16 Holiday Inaugural and will look to make the grade in the Swale.

He, too, could be on the trail with a solid performance.

“I’m undecided right now,” Delacour said of the Into Mischief colt. “We don’t really have to make a commitment or think about a special program right now. We just want to see if he can stretch out. It will be very interesting to see how he handles the seven-eighths and we’ll take it from there."

• The Swale marks the first start for Diamond King for trainer John Servis, of Smarty Jones fame.

“He’s not a very big horse, but he has a really big stride on him,” Servis said of the Quality Road colt, who came into his barn off a victory in the Dec. 30 Heft Stakes at Laurel Park. “I think he’ll stretch out. That’s probably where he’ll show his best, stretching out.”

Diamond King ran under the care of former trainer Robert Reid in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes but didn’t register a finish after clipping heels and dropping his rider entering the clubhouse turn. He’s the third morning line choice at 7-2.

Saturday handicapping materials

For the Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes:

Picks | Past Performances | Odds and Analysis

For the Grade 3, $150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes:

Picks | Past Performances | Odds and Analysis

For the Grade 2, $350,000 Holy Bull Stakes: 

Picks | Past Performances | Odds and Analysis

New work rider for Bolt d’Oro

Corey Nakatani, replaced by Javier Castellano as the jockey on top Derby hopeful Bolt d’Oro, did not work the horse Friday, either. Rather, retired jockey Agapito Delgadillo, one of five full-time exercise riders for owner and trainer Mick Ruis, had the assignment.

The half mile drill in 48.40 seconds marked Bolt d’Oro’s second toward a season debut in the Grade 2, $400,000 San Felipe Stakes on March 10 at Santa Anita Park. The son of Medaglia d’Oro galloped our 5/8 in 1:01.

“I’m super happy,” Ruis said. “He did it easy.”

Sporting Chance confirmed for Southwest

Grade 1 Hopeful winner Sporting Chance, off since then after having a knee chip surgically removed, was confirmed Friday by trainer D. Wayne Lukas as a probable starter for Oaklawn Park’s new Derby prep, the Grade 3, $400,000 Southwest Stakes on Feb. 19.

“We didn’t have any target when we first got here because we didn’t know how quick he would come in hand,” Lukas said. “But he’s done so well since he got here, we started getting more optimistic that the Southwest was a doable deal.”

The colt will make his two-turn debut with jockey Luis Saez up. Since returning to training in December, Sporting Chance, a son of Tiznow, has recorded four timed workouts, most recently breezing five furlongs Monday in 1:01.40.

Top workers

Combatant — Expected to join Sporting Chance and Smarty Jones Stakes winner Mourinho in the Southwest Stakes, this Steve Asmussen trainee has continued with a consistent work schedule, most recently breezing 5/8 of a mile in 1:01.40 on Wednesday. Notably, he’s working up to the Southwest at Oaklawn, whereas he drilled at Fair Grounds before finishing a runner-up in the Smarty Jones.

Nero — A winner last out for trainer Bob Baffert, he breezed for the first time since that Jan. 13 victory on Friday, getting five furlongs at Santa Anita in a bullet 1:00.40. That could be a sign the light has turned on for a colt who needs special treatment. He has obvious talent and fetched $950,000 at auction but doesn’t respond well to a rider’s urging.

Vouch — Third in the Grade 2 Remsen off a maiden-breaking effort, he has drilled four weeks in succession starting Jan. 10 at Classic Mile, a Florida training center. The most-recent work Friday was clocked at 49.40 (2/8) seconds for four furlongs. No word yet on where the Arnaud Delacour trainee could run next.

In case you missed it…

Thursday’s Derby Daily report focused on the release of Triple Crown nominees — and a few names missing from the list of 360 horses eligible for the Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes.

• Catch up with all the latest Derby news by reading past editions of HRN’s Derby Daily report.