Kentucky Derby trail: Enterdadragon might try Florida Derby

Enterdadragon, runner-up in the Colonel Liam on turf last time out, could wind up in the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 29 at Gulfstream Park.

Trainer Jose D’Angelo wants to see the gelded son of Outwork breeze Saturday on the main track at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, before the connections decide whether to run in the 1 1/8-mile Triple Crown prep.

“We know that he’s a much better horse on the grass, but I would just like to see how good he can handle the dirt and take it from there to help us make the final decision and put him in the right spot,” D’Angelo said.

Nominated to the Triple Crown, Enterdadragon was entered but scratched as the program favorite from an open allowance for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles on the all-weather Tapeta course March 13 at Gulfstream. He has run twice as far as 1 1/16 miles twice, most recently finishing fourth by 2 1/2 lengths in the Feb. 1 Kitten’s Joy.

“I took him out of that (last) race because he ran so good in the stakes that we wanted to bring him back in a stakes,” D’Angelo said.

Enterdadragon came flying late along the inside to win a head-bob for second, 4 3/4 lengths behind multiple stakes winner Mi Bago, in the one-mile Colonel Liam on March 1. Seven of his nine career starts have come on the grass. In his lone dirt try he got bumped at the start and wound up fifth in the Aventura, also at a mile, last fall at Gulfstream.

“He ran one time on the dirt and he didn’t run bad,” D’Angelo said. “He looks good. That race also he was wearing blinkers. (Three) races ago I took off the blinkers and he’s improving. He can go long so easy.”

If the connections decide to bypass the Florida Derby, Enterdadragon is expected to run in the $165,000 Cutler Bay for 3-year-olds going 7 1/2 furlongs on the turf.

“The race on the grass here is 7 1/2 furlongs and the race on the dirt is longer, so that’s why we are considering it, to let him run long,” D’Angelo said. “We are thinking about it. We are waiting for the last workout on Saturday and making the decision.”