Girvin begins preparations for Louisiana Derby

Brad Grady’s Girvin, who burst onto the Kentucky Derby trail with an impressive victory in the Grade II $400,000 Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 25, had his first work since said triumph on Saturday morning. The Joe Sharp-trained son of Tale of Ekati worked alongside stablemate and fellow Grady-owned colt Cool Arrow, with each 3-year-old getting a half-mile in 49 flat. 

 

Sharp, who was aboard multiple stakes-winning Cool Arrow, expressed that he was very happy with the dark bay colt’s breeze, especially his strong gallop out. Former jockey Rosie Napravnik was aboard Girvin. Sharp confirmed that the goal is still the Grade II $1,000,000 Louisiana Derby on Apr. 1. Cool Arrow’s plans have yet to be confirmed. 

 

 

 

Shaking off an off-the-board finish last out, G M B Racing’s Mo Tom displayed marked strength on Saturday morning, blazing five furlongs in a brisk 58.80 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots and earning the bullet for his 11-time meet champion trainer. The move is part of a realization that Tom Amoss must change his training of the son of Uncle Mo in order to accommodate for the physical maturation he once greatly longed for with the late-blooming type.

 

“He worked in company and the workmate gave him a head start, but the separation wound up being a little more than I would have liked,” Amoss said. “He really came running and while I can’t say I was looking for something that fast, I don’t think it should be a problem. He’s a different horse this year, a stronger horse. He’s not the skinny May foal he was as a 3-year-old and he’s matured very well.” 

 

Last out, the well-regarded Kentucky Derby alum was a disappointing sixth of seven in the Grade III $125,000 Mineshaft Handicap on Feb. 25 to kick off his sophomore campaign. The effort was his first since September and included a sharp rally on the far turn that ultimately faltered in the lane against a salty group of older handicap horses, including four other graded stakes winners. 

 

“I think I should have done more with him prior to the Mineshaft,” Amoss continued. “I trained more along the lines of how I did last year and now I know that I need to train him like the horse he is now. I’m not sure what we’re going to do as far as his next race. We’ll talk about the New Orleans Handicap and see how difficult it comes up. Maybe we’ll run, maybe we won’t. For now, we’ll see how he trains.” 

 

The Grade II $400,000 New Orleans is the meet centerpiece for older horses and is on Louisiana Derby Day, Apr. 1 over nine furlongs on the main track.