Shadwell Farm's unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Shagaf (Bernardini) had his final tune-up for Saturday's GIII Gotham S. at the Big A, covering four furlongs in :48.95 (8/61) at Palm Meadows Saturday.
“He's doing well,” trainer Chad Brown said. “We'll have to wait and see where he draws in the race, but from what we've seen so far, he certainly has the ability to adapt to any kind of pace in the race.”
Shagaf won his debut impressively by six lengths at Aqueduct Nov. 22, then followed with another smart score going a mile in a Jan. 29 optional claimer at Gulfstream.
Dennis Drazin's Sunny Ridge (Holy Bull), winner of the GIII Withers S. Jan. 30, worked an easy four furlongs in :51.88 (44/48) over the Belmont training track Friday.
“It's just maintenance you know,” trainer Jason Servis commented. “He doesn't have to go lights-out, but he went well. He's doing OK. We're ready.”
Laoban (Uncle Mo), a close third in the GIII Sham S. at Santa Anita last out Jan. 9, worked six furlongs in 1:15.06 (1/1) at Aqueduct Saturday.
“He worked good,” trainer Eric Guillot said of the maiden of three career starts. “He's pretty fit; I just wanted to get a work over this track.”
Laoban was entered earlier this month in the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. at Santa Anita, but was scratched the morning of the race after he developed a fever.
Trainer Linda Rice, meanwhile, is weighing Matt King Coal (Cool Coal Man)'s options for his sophomore debut. Unraced since his front-running maiden victory at Belmont Oct. 29, the Florida-bred has worked steadily since returning to Rice's barn in early February.
“We've had three strong breezes in him, and the last two were pretty nice,” Rice said. “I wouldn't mind having one more work, but I think I might just run him fresh. I just haven't quite decided yet which way we're going to go yet.”
Adventist (Any Given Saturday), Governor Malibu (Malibu Moon), Conquest Big E (Tapit) and Rally Cry (Uncle Mo) are also expected for the Gotham.
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