'Logistics to work out' as Terranova eyes Oaklawn Park stakes

Curragh Stables' graded stakes winner Killybegs Captain worked five-eighths of a mile in 1:00.97 on Saturday over the Belmont Park dirt training track for trainer John Terranova, who is considering next weekend's Grade 3, $350,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap if the ship works out.

Killybegs Captain, who recently returned from Dubai where he was a contender for the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) on the canceled Dubai World Cup undercard, would have to travel to Oaklawn Park for the six-furlong sprint for 4-year-olds and up.

"He looked great. It was a nice work and he looks to be in great shape," said Terranova. "We still have to figure out what we're going to do. There's some logistics to work out with the shipping. We'll see how he is in the next couple of days and figure out if we're able to ship. It's a possibility and we're still considering it, but it's not set in stone."

Gatsas Stables, R.A. Hill Stable and Swick Stable's multiple stakes winner Funny Guy worked five-eighths in 1:02.14 on Saturday for the busy Terranova barn. 

The 4-year-old New York-bred son of Big Brown, out of the Distorted Humor mare Heavenly Humor, won the NYSSS Times Square at the Big A and the Albany at Saratoga in a productive 2019 campaign that concluded with a sixth in the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park.

"He's another one sitting on 'go', with no place to go," said Terranova. "He's been working right along for a while and everything is good with him."

Funny Guy's 3-year-old half-brother Three Jokers, by Twirling Candy, went five furlongs in 1:00.75 on Saturday morning. A winner at first asking in August 2019 at Saratoga, Funny Guy ran second in the Bertram F. Bongard in September at Belmont and completed his campaign in October with a fifth in the Sleepy Hollow.

Terranova said the $100,000 Bachelor, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds slated for April 25 at Oaklawn, is a possibility for Three Jokers, who was bred in New York by Hibiscus Stable.

"He's a horse that could ship to Oaklawn. There's an allowance race for 3-year-olds coming up and a sprint stakes [the Bachelor] for 3-year-olds on the 25th," said Terranova. "We'll keep those races in mind and see what happens. Right now, I'm happy that all our horses are healthy and training well."

Also on the work tab Saturday for Terranova was the graded-stakes placed Syndergaard, who finished second in the Champagne (G1) as a juvenile.

Owned by Eric Fein, Christopher McKenna, Harris Fein, Guri Singh, and Jerry Walia, the 6-year-old chestnut breezed three furlongs in 36.93. The New York-bred son of Majesticperfection won the 2016 Funny Cide at Saratoga in his second career start ahead of his Champagne effort. Syndergaard, named for the New York Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard, finished third last out in the Haynesfield on February 22 at the Big A.

Stan the Man, who boasts a record of 22-6-6-2 with purse earnings of $406,374, breezed three furlongs in 36.84. The 6-year-old Broken Vow gelding finished sixth last out in the Stymie on March 7 at the Big A. He won three-of-six starts last year including a score in the Queens County at Aqueduct.