Thursday, May 27, 2010
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- Dave in Dixie joins
- Ice Box drills a half-mile at Spa in
- Belmont hopeful Spangled Star works in company with D’Funnybone
- Convocation puts in bullet move for Met Mile
Trained by John Sadler, the son of Dixie Union broke his maiden at first asking last summer at
According to Thrash, the decision to join the
“It’s worth a shot,” said Thrash, who was represented in the Kentucky Derby by Line of David, who finished 18th, but whose Derby Trial winner, Hurricane Ike, was withdrawn from Preakness consideration the morning of entry. “He worked for the last time [before the
According to Thrash, Calvin Borel will ride.
In addition to Dave in Dixie, the field for the
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In his final serious move for next Saturday’s
Spotting 3-year-old stablemate Dark Cove five lengths at the start of the workout, Ice Box went in 23.25 for the first quarter and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.02.
“I liked everything about the work,” said Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito of the Grade 1 Florida Derby winner, who finished second in the Kentucky Derby in his most recent outing.
“I wanted to see what I saw [in his work]. He finished with good energy and he looked good doing it. That’s the main thing. Sometimes, you got to have a little zip in him, even though he’s going a mile-and-a-half. This is the exact workout he had coming into the Kentucky Derby. Hopefully, everything goes good.”
Ice Box, along with stablemate and fellow
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Belmont hopeful Spangled Star breezed in company with stablemate D’ Funnybone this morning at Aqueduct, covering five furlongs in 1:01.46.
“The two of them went together,” said Spangled Star’s owner Lawrence P. Roman. “The last time they worked out Spangled Star opened about five lengths [on D’ Funnybone]. This time they stayed together, with Spangled Star outgaming D’ Funnybone by a neck. They were really battling. They went slow at the beginning but were flying at the end. Both riders were happy with the way their horses went.”
Roman realizes that Spangled Star, who was third in the Grade 3 Withers in his most recent effort, will have to take a step forward to be a serious contender in the
“According to the groom and [trainer] Rick [Dutrow], he’s doing better than ever,” said Roman. “I’m not a big believer in workouts, but he seems to be doing well.”
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Convocation, runner-up in the Grade 3 Westchester on Opening Day at
The move was the fastest of 22 works at the distance.
“I wouldn’t have minded if he’d gone a couple of ticks faster, but I was satisfied with it,” said trainer Jimmy Jerkens. “He’s ready to run.”
A five-length allowance winner in his only other start this year, the 4-year-old Pulpit colt will be facing a serious field in the Met Mile, headed by Quality Road, impressive winner of the Donn Handicap in his most recent start. Also being pointed to the Met Mile are Grade 1 Carter winner Warrior’s Reward, Westchester winner Le Grand Cru and fourth-place finisher Honest Man, 2009 Dwyer and Jim Dandy winner Kensei and Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Handicap victor You and I Forever.
Warrior’s Reward was scheduled to arrive at
“He’s doing great,” said trainer Ian Wilkes of Warrior’s Reward. “He’s had two wins and a second, so that’s hardly a season in which you could be disappointed. Monday’s race is a tough one – it’s a Grade 1 and they don’t just hand them out – but our challenge is to try and beat
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