Yorkiepoo Princess auditions for Kentucky Oaks in Gazelle

A strong showing in the Grade 2, $300,000 Gazelle could lead to even bigger things for Yorkiepoo Princess. Trainer Edward Barker said a first- or second-place showing on April 8 will likely lead to her running in the Grade 1, $1 million Kentucky Oaks. 

Not yet nominated to the Oaks, Yorkiepoo Princess picked up 50 qualifying points with a 1 ¾-length victory in the Busher on February 25 at Aqueduct, essentially guaranteeing the 3-year-old Kantharos filly a spot in the "Run for the Lilies" starting gate on May 5.

The Gazelle, a Kentucky Oaks prep race run at 1 1/8 miles on Wood Memorial Day, will award 100 points to the winner, 40 to the runner-up, 20 for third place and 10 for fourth. Yorkiepoo Princess will enter the Gazelle off three straight stakes wins, winning at six furlongs in front-running fashion in the Furlough and Ruthless before rallying to take the 1 1/16-mile Busher. 

"I trained her to come off the pace and it worked out well," Barker said. "We were breezing her from the finish line to get her to relax. I didn't have to do anywhere near the training with her this time as the last."

Yorkiepoo Princess completed a dense workload, breezing three times in nine days at the Big A from March 21-30, including going six furlongs in 1:14.35 on Thursday.

"I breezed her three times but that was because of the weather;" he said. "I had her on a different schedule but it didn't cooperate [and] I would have lost one of those days. She came out it of good and she's doing great."

Jockey Irad Oritz, Jr., who rode her to victory in the Busher, will ride again in the Gazelle. 

"I'd like to see her run the same way she did in the Busher," Barker said. "It looks like there's going to be speed in that race. But the last time she ran long, she improved. So hopefully she'll improve again this time."

 

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Roddy Valente's homebred Stretch's Stone will look to take a big step up in class as a probable addition to the April 8 Wood Memorial field, pending his next workout in the next few days, according to his owner.

In his last start, the Bruce Levine trainee was elevated to the win following a disqualification in his first try around two turns in a state-bred optional claiming event February 24 at the Big A. Stretch's Stone dug in to finish a neck behind Mr. Buff after stumbling when he broke from the outside post and being bumped in the stretch. 

The win was the second straight for the New York-bred gelding by Bustin Stones following his 8 ¼-length maiden-breaking victory going six furlongs on a muddy and sealed track on December 18. His last two wins produced Beyer Speed Figures of 84 and 85, respectively.

"It was a big step up for him and he's paired 4's on the Thorograph, so we just think he's going to break through," said Valente. "Maybe it won't be enough, but I think he's going to make a really good effort for himself. Bruce always wanted to stretch him out and we lost a good four weeks [to weather] before that race. He just had two slow halves and a five-eighths into him. When we drew the 10 hole, we tried to reenter into a six-furlong race a few days later. Bruce said to me, 'I know I've got him fit for three-quarters, I don't know if I got him fit for a mile and a sixteenth.'

"To me, the best part of that race is what he did and I know he wasn't 100% going into that race," he added. "I really think he's going to break through the numbers, so that's why we really want to take a shot. And, quite honestly, I know he's a good horse, I don't know how good a horse he is, and I'd rather find out for $750,000 instead of, say, $60,000. That's our reasoning."

 

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Registration is now open for the Wood Memorial Challenge on Wood Memorial Day, Saturday, April 8. The $500 live money buy-in tournament gives horseplayers an opportunity to compete for prize money in addition to one seat, including entry fees, to the 2017 Belmont Stakes Challenge in June and two seats to the 2018 National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas.

Of the $500 entry fee, $200 will go to the prize pool and $300 will serve as the player's live bankroll with win, place, show, exacta, trifecta and quinella wagering only. Contestants may wager on races at Aqueduct and Keeneland, but must wager a minimum of five races at the Big A and a maximum of five races at Keeneland during the contest.

Contestants for the Wood Memorial Challenge are required to pre-register online at nyra.com/challenge and pay all entry fees by Thursday, April 6, 5:00 p.m. ET. Walk-up registrations will not be accepted.