Dolphus Entered at Fair Grounds Jan. 31

Dede McGehee’s Dolphus continues to train well for Joe Sharp. Following his morning gallop Saturday with his conditioner aboard, the son of Smart Strike and Hal Wiggins-trained stakes winner Lotta Kim – making him a half-brother to 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra – was entered in a mile and 70-yard allowance/optional claiming event against five other sophomores slated for next Sunday, Jan. 31 at Fair Grounds Race Course.

The 3-year-old-restricted event will be his sophomore debut in lieu of a Gulfstream Park allowance two days prior going a one-turn mile. Sharp indicated that a preference to stay home at Fair Grounds was the deciding factor for the chestnut colt who flipped and was scratched by the stewards on advice of the veterinarian prior to the Grade III $200,000 Lecomte Stakes on Jan. 16. In two career starts – both at Fair Grounds – Dolphus won his debut going six panels and was third in a mile and 70-yard allowance in mid-December, one placing behind subsequent Lecomte runner-up Tom’s Ready.

Sunday’s event also drew Rosemont Farm’s graded stakes-placed homebred Harlan Punch, who was third last out in the Grade III $1,000,000 Delta Jackpot at Delta Downs in November for trainer Tom Amoss. Adding further depth to the race is Larry Jones-owned and -trained Jensen, who will be returning on three weeks’ rest off a graduation going six furlongs that seemed to indicate that a step up in trip should be of little worry for his connections.

FOREVAMO PROGRESSING WELL FOR STALL

Another in a seemingly endless parade of adept offspring by reigning champion freshman sire Uncle Mo, Brittlyn Stable’s Forevamo is a 3-year-old moving in the right direction, according to trainer Al Stall, Jr. Though he does not have the current stature of crop-mates such as Eclipse Award champion 2-year-old Nyquist or locally based Grade III $200,000 Lecomte Stakes winner Mo Tom, the bay colt could join that pair on the Triple Crown trail if he keeps progressing.

“He’s a talented colt,” Stall said. “He’s a big, long horse who is a little awkward to ride on the turns, especially with a short stretch right after it. It didn’t make sense to take a minor stakes winner and run against proven stakes winners in graded stakes company (in the Lecomte), so we just stayed with his condition. We’ll likely stay in that condition next time. It seems like it will fill.”

The Florida-bred was a game second on Monday in the featured allowance/optional claiming event behind Candy My Boy after racing near the back of the pack and making a sustained move on the turn under leading rider Colby Hernandez. A $320,000 Ocala Breeders’ Sale April 2015 purchase, Forevamo has made five starts and consistently faced tough competition.

Debuting at Saratoga in August, the half-brother to two-time Grade I-winning Eclipse Award champion female sprinter Musical Romance and Puerto Rican multi-champion Vuelve Ruben M. ran into subsequent stakes winner Sheikh of Sheikhs when finishing fourth of 10. Next out, he was a game second to Lecomte runner-up Tom’s Ready in a seven-furlong Churchill Downs maiden in late September. He followed that with his only win when taking the Listed $200,000 Jean Lafitte Stakes at Delta Downs over well-regarded Tom Amoss trainee Harlan Punch going a two-turn mile and then was sixth in the Grade III $1,000,000 Delta Jackpot behind top-class 2015 juvenile Exaggerator at 1 1/16 miles.

WORK TAB

Midwest Thoroughbreds’ The Pizza Man worked five furlongs in 1:01.60 on Saturday morning for trainer Roger Brueggemann. The move was the first of 2016 for Grade I-winning Eclipse Award finalist.

Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Grade II-winning Just Wicked worked toward her sophomore debut with her second move of the year when negotiating five panels on Friday morning in 1:02.20 for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Multiple graded stakes-winning turf sprinter Marchman worked a half-mile in 50.20 for trainer Bret Calhoun and owner Martin Racing Stable.

Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey’s Joe Sharp-trained One King’s Man, a visually impressive winner of a conditioned allowance on Jan. 7, worked a half-mile in 50.60.

Stacey Moak’s Half Cajun, winner of the $97,000 Louisiana Futurity on Dec. 31, worked six furlongs in 1:14.80 on Saturday for trainer Sweet Hodges.

Empyrean Stables’ talented 4-year-old Zipessa, who was last seen finishing eighth in the Grade I $300,000 Del Mar Oaks on Aug. 15 for trainer Mike Stidham, worked three furlongs in her first work since said effort.

Source: Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots