After passing his latest test, Gradepoint is ready to move up in class on the road to the Kentucky Derby.
The 3-year-old colt won the Risen Star at the Fair Grounds in his stakes debut, and his next start is set for the Louisiana Derby on March 7.
"I think he'll be ready for it," trainer Neil Howard said Tuesday from New Orleans, a day after Gradepoint worked three furlongs in a moderate 37.20 seconds. "Then we'll see how he stacks up. Right now, he's at a nice progression."
Gradepoint, a dark bay son of A.P. Indy, has won three in a row after finishing third in his debut at Belmont Park in September.
With his half-length win over 4-5 favorite Mr. Jester in the Risen Star on Feb. 15, Gradepoint moves onto the Derby Prospects list this week at No. 7.
Howard prefers the low-key approach when he has a talented horse, but it's clear the trainer is high on Gradepoint, whose pedigree suggests improvement as Derby preps increase in distance.
The Risen Star and Louisiana Derby are 1 1-16 miles. The next big day of preps is April 10, with three 12 1/8-mile races -- the Arkansas Derby, Blue Grass and Wood Memorial. The Kentucky Derby, at 1\ miles, is on May 1.
"I'm excited, but at this point I'll try to stay level about it," Howard said. "Thinking about the Derby, it's easy to get untracked if you're not careful."
Howard, coming off a year in which he trained Horse of the Year Mineshaft and Preakness runner-up Midway Road, has another Derby hopeful in Breakaway. The colt won an allowance at the Fair Grounds on Feb. 15 by 91/2 lengths, and will run next in either the Louisiana Derby or the Tampa Bay Derby on March 14.
The top 10 prospects:
1. Eurosilver (Nick Zito, trainer; Javier Castellano, jockey) _ Three wins in four starts, including easy allowance victory in 3-year-old debut on Feb. 4... Worked five furlongs in leisurely 1:02 at Palm Meadows on Feb. 18 ... Earnings of $305,600 for Mahmoud Fustok's Buckram Oak Farm ... Schedule calls for Swale Stakes (March 13) at Gulfstream, followed by Blue Grass (April 10) at Keeneland ... Derby future wager odds: 11-1 .
2. Read the Footnotes (Rick Violette Jr.; Jerry Bailey) -- Won Fountain of Youth (Feb. 14) at Gulfstream after stretch duel with Second of June ... Winner in five of six starts for earnings of $390,660 ... Next start: Florida Derby ... Odds: 14-1.
3. Birdstone (Zito; Bailey) -- Easily won 3-year-old debut in allowance race (Feb. 14) at Gulfstream ... Three wins in four starts for owner Marylou Whitney, with earnings of $360,600 ... Next start either Florida Derby or Lane's End Stakes (March 20) at Turfway Park ... Odds: 12-1.
4. Master David (Bobby Frankel; Edgar Prado) -- Prado replaces Alex Solis ... Won Sham Stakes (Feb. 8) at Santa Anita in last start ... Worked six furlongs in 1:13.20 Tuesday at Hollywood Park ... Next start: Florida Derby ... Odds: 19-1.
5. Action This Day (Richard Mandella; David Flores) -- Worked four furlongs in 50.60 Friday, three days after working three furlongs in 36.80 ... 2-year-old Eclipse Award winner has earned $822,084 for owner B. Wayne Hughes, most of it coming from win in BC Juvenile ... Next start: San Felipe (March 14) ... Odds: 14-1.
6. Lion Heart (Patrick Biancone; Mike Smith) -- Worked seven furlongs in 1:27 on Feb. 17 at Santa Anita as he preps for 3-year-old debut in San Rafael (March 6) ... Has won all three starts for earnings of $310,800 ... Odds: 14-1.
7. Gradepoint (Neil Howard; Robby Albarado) -- Came from well back to take Risen Star ... Earnings of $144,285 ... Next start: Louisiana Derby ... Odds: 24-1.
8. Halfbridled (Mandella; Julie Krone) -- Unbeaten in four starts last year and unraced this year ... Worked seven furlongs in 1:24.80 on Feb. 19 at Santa Anita in preparation for Santa Anita Oaks (March 13) ... Odds: 22-1.
9. St Avril (Rafael Becerra; Tyler Baze) -- Worked six furlongs in 1:12 on Feb. 19 at Santa Anita ... Won Santa Catalina (Jan. 17), beating Master David ... Next start: San Felipe (March 14) ... Odds: 25-1.
10. Value Plus (Todd Pletcher; John Velazquez) -- Won 3-year-old debut, a seven-furlong allowance at Gulfstream on Feb. 14 ... Has two wins and a second in five career starts for earnings of $107,400 ... Next start: Florida Derby ... Odds: 9-5 (mutuel field).
Keep in mind: Minister Eric, Swingforthefences, Tapit, The Cliff's Edge, Wimbledon.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/
The 3-year-old colt won the Risen Star at the Fair Grounds in his stakes debut, and his next start is set for the Louisiana Derby on March 7.
"I think he'll be ready for it," trainer Neil Howard said Tuesday from New Orleans, a day after Gradepoint worked three furlongs in a moderate 37.20 seconds. "Then we'll see how he stacks up. Right now, he's at a nice progression."
Gradepoint, a dark bay son of A.P. Indy, has won three in a row after finishing third in his debut at Belmont Park in September.
With his half-length win over 4-5 favorite Mr. Jester in the Risen Star on Feb. 15, Gradepoint moves onto the Derby Prospects list this week at No. 7.
Howard prefers the low-key approach when he has a talented horse, but it's clear the trainer is high on Gradepoint, whose pedigree suggests improvement as Derby preps increase in distance.
The Risen Star and Louisiana Derby are 1 1-16 miles. The next big day of preps is April 10, with three 12 1/8-mile races -- the Arkansas Derby, Blue Grass and Wood Memorial. The Kentucky Derby, at 1\ miles, is on May 1.
"I'm excited, but at this point I'll try to stay level about it," Howard said. "Thinking about the Derby, it's easy to get untracked if you're not careful."
Howard, coming off a year in which he trained Horse of the Year Mineshaft and Preakness runner-up Midway Road, has another Derby hopeful in Breakaway. The colt won an allowance at the Fair Grounds on Feb. 15 by 91/2 lengths, and will run next in either the Louisiana Derby or the Tampa Bay Derby on March 14.
The top 10 prospects:
1. Eurosilver (Nick Zito, trainer; Javier Castellano, jockey) _ Three wins in four starts, including easy allowance victory in 3-year-old debut on Feb. 4... Worked five furlongs in leisurely 1:02 at Palm Meadows on Feb. 18 ... Earnings of $305,600 for Mahmoud Fustok's Buckram Oak Farm ... Schedule calls for Swale Stakes (March 13) at Gulfstream, followed by Blue Grass (April 10) at Keeneland ... Derby future wager odds: 11-1 .
2. Read the Footnotes (Rick Violette Jr.; Jerry Bailey) -- Won Fountain of Youth (Feb. 14) at Gulfstream after stretch duel with Second of June ... Winner in five of six starts for earnings of $390,660 ... Next start: Florida Derby ... Odds: 14-1.
3. Birdstone (Zito; Bailey) -- Easily won 3-year-old debut in allowance race (Feb. 14) at Gulfstream ... Three wins in four starts for owner Marylou Whitney, with earnings of $360,600 ... Next start either Florida Derby or Lane's End Stakes (March 20) at Turfway Park ... Odds: 12-1.
4. Master David (Bobby Frankel; Edgar Prado) -- Prado replaces Alex Solis ... Won Sham Stakes (Feb. 8) at Santa Anita in last start ... Worked six furlongs in 1:13.20 Tuesday at Hollywood Park ... Next start: Florida Derby ... Odds: 19-1.
5. Action This Day (Richard Mandella; David Flores) -- Worked four furlongs in 50.60 Friday, three days after working three furlongs in 36.80 ... 2-year-old Eclipse Award winner has earned $822,084 for owner B. Wayne Hughes, most of it coming from win in BC Juvenile ... Next start: San Felipe (March 14) ... Odds: 14-1.
6. Lion Heart (Patrick Biancone; Mike Smith) -- Worked seven furlongs in 1:27 on Feb. 17 at Santa Anita as he preps for 3-year-old debut in San Rafael (March 6) ... Has won all three starts for earnings of $310,800 ... Odds: 14-1.
7. Gradepoint (Neil Howard; Robby Albarado) -- Came from well back to take Risen Star ... Earnings of $144,285 ... Next start: Louisiana Derby ... Odds: 24-1.
8. Halfbridled (Mandella; Julie Krone) -- Unbeaten in four starts last year and unraced this year ... Worked seven furlongs in 1:24.80 on Feb. 19 at Santa Anita in preparation for Santa Anita Oaks (March 13) ... Odds: 22-1.
9. St Avril (Rafael Becerra; Tyler Baze) -- Worked six furlongs in 1:12 on Feb. 19 at Santa Anita ... Won Santa Catalina (Jan. 17), beating Master David ... Next start: San Felipe (March 14) ... Odds: 25-1.
10. Value Plus (Todd Pletcher; John Velazquez) -- Won 3-year-old debut, a seven-furlong allowance at Gulfstream on Feb. 14 ... Has two wins and a second in five career starts for earnings of $107,400 ... Next start: Florida Derby ... Odds: 9-5 (mutuel field).
Keep in mind: Minister Eric, Swingforthefences, Tapit, The Cliff's Edge, Wimbledon.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/
