Derby trail: Stronghold, Liberal Arts lead 8 Monday works
Stronghold, the last-out winner of the Grade 3 Sunland Park Derby, posted his third work since that victory at Santa Anita on Monday. The son of Ghostzapper worked five furlongs in 1:00.6, eighth fastest of 44 drills over the course and distance. Trainer Phil D'Amato has not yet confirmed a next start for Stronghold, who is a 70-1 best price in Las Vegas and closed at 48-1 in pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager.
Liberal Arts, who won the Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs last fall, was the one other graded-stakes winner among sophomores on the Monday work tab. He covered four furlongs at The Thoroughbred Center in an easy 50.6 seconds. The son of Arrogate, trained by Robert Medina, was most recently third behind Mystik Dan in the Southwest (G3), his 3-year-old debut. He is expected to return in the Arkansas Derby (G1). Liberal Arts is a 75-1 best price in Las Vegas and closed at 45-1 in pool 5 of the KDFW.
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These seven horses in Las Vegas futures for the Kentucky Derby worked Monday morning:
Ethan Energy (Uncle Mo) worked four furlongs in 48.6 seconds at Oaklawn on Monday morning. It was the eighth fastest of 40 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed fifth in an allowance race going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Oaklawn on March 2 for trainer Brad Cox.
Imperial Gun (Gun Runner) worked five furlongs in 1:01.2 at Oaklawn on Monday morning. It was the 10th fastest of 33 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going five furlongs at Oaklawn. In his last start he placed fourth in an allowance race going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Oaklawn on Feb. 24 for trainer Steve Asmussen.
Informed Patriot (Hard Spun) worked five furlongs in 1:01.2 at Oaklawn on Monday morning. It was the 10th fastest of 33 works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going five furlongs at Oaklawn. In his last start he placed fifth in the Sunland Park Derby (G3) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Sunland Park on Feb. 18 for trainer Steve Asmussen.
Liberal Arts (Arrogate), a Grade 3 winner (2023 Street Sense), worked four furlongs in 50.6 seconds at The Thoroughbred Center on Monday morning. It was the seventh fastest of seven works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at The Thoroughbred Center. In his last start he placed third in the Southwest (G3) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Oaklawn on Feb. 3 for trainer Robert Medina.
Seize the Grey (Arrogate) worked five furlongs in 1:00.6 at Oaklawn on Monday morning. It was the fourth fastest of 33 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going five furlongs at Oaklawn. In his last start he won an allowance race going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Oaklawn on Feb. 24 for trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
Stronghold (Ghostzapper), a Grade 3 winner (2024 Sunland Park Derby), worked five furlongs in 1:00.6 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the eighth fastest of 44 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he won the Sunland Park Derby (G3) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Sunland Park on Feb. 18 for trainer Phil D'Amato.
Tapalo (Tapiture) worked six furlongs in 1:13.4 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the third fastest of five works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he placed second in the El Camino Real Derby going 1 1/8 miles on the synthetic at Golden Gate Fields on Feb. 10 for trainer John Sadler.
This horse is not on the Kentucky Derby trail because Bob Baffert trainees remain ineligible for the race, but he could be in the running for other Triple Crown races:
Wine Me Up (Vino Rosso) worked three furlongs in 37.0 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the 11th fastest of 19 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed second in the San Felipe (G2) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Santa Anita on March 3 for trainer Bob Baffert.