Weekend Watch: 3-year-olds in the spotlight coast to coast
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Heading into the first weekend of the new year, the freshly minted 3-year-olds will be out in full force. From Gulfstream Park’s Saturday card, which is dedicated nearly entirely to the sophomore class, to Santa Anita’s Grade 3 Sham Stakes, the first 2018 Kentucky Derby points race of the year, there is plenty of potential Derby and Oaks talent to be seen. There's nothing in racing quite as exciting as seeing some well-bred young runners hit the track. So this week, it’s all about the 3-year-olds.
Cowboytakemeaway debuts for Hollendorfer, Stonestreet
Cowboytakemeaway (Street Cry—Hot Dixie Chick), a half-brother to Union Jackson, will start his career for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and owner Stonestreet Stables on Friday in Santa Anita’s second race. Tabbed as the 15-1 outsider in the six furlong event over the main track, the filly faces Hottalabamba, who was a nicely closing second in her debut on Dec. 1. Cowboytakemeaway has shown hardly any speed in the mornings, but as we all know, sometimes works can be deceiving. It should be interesting to see how this one turns out for her well-known connections.
Moon Pistol to be unveiled
Out of multiple graded stakes-winning sprinter Pomeroys Pistol, Moon Pistol will try a flat mile on the turf in his debut in Gulfstream Park’s sixth race on Saturday. The event drew an oversubscribed field with 12 entrants and three also eligibles. Scrolling through the entrants reveals a who’s who of the racing industry. Other owners with a stake in the race include Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Stuart S. Janney III and Phipps Stable, and Calumet Farm. The gelding drew the far outside post and will therefore have his work cut out for him.
Derby hopeful Dak Attack makes 2018 bow
Trainer Dale Romans has a handful of serious Kentucky Derby contenders, with undefeated Dak Attack the first of them to run in 2018. Off since late August, the colt returns to the races Saturday in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park. For such an early, non-graded stakes that carries no Derby points, the Mucho Macho Man drew a talented field. Chad Brown ships in
Controversial McKinzie tops Grade 3 Sham Stakes.
Due to frigid temperatures in the Northeast, Saturday’s Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita will be the first Kentucky Derby points race of 2018 after Aqueduct’s New Year’s Day card -- including the Jerome Stakes -- was postponed due to the weather. The Sham field is headed by controversial Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity winner McKinzie. In that race, which was just the colt’s second, McKinzie was second across the wire to Solomini and then awarded the victory when the stewards disqualified the Zayat Stables runner for interference in the stretch. Lining up to face the heavy favorite are Shivermetimbers, who has faced McKinzie before, and, Mourinho, who was most recently runner-up in the Grade Bob Hope. The field also comprises four other runners.
The long awaited unveiling of Scrambled is finally happening!
Technically a gray, Egg Drop, affectionately known as “The White Witch,” was an easy to spot fan favorite on the track. On Sunday, her first foal, Scrambled, a colt by Tapit, makes his much-anticipated debut in Santa Anita’s opener. He will be traveling 6 ½ furlongs on the downhill turf. The colt drew the far outside post in the field of 11. He was set to debut in the fall but got sick and missed training time. Little Red Feather Racing, who campaigned Egg Drop but sold her to Bridlewood Farm while she was in foal with Scrambled, will also campaign the son of their Grade 1 winner after purchasing the colt for just $200,000 from Bridlewood Farm via the Ocala Breeders’ Sales 2017 March sale of 2-year olds in training.
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