Robert LaPenta and Madaket Stables' MGSW Catholic Boy (More Than Ready) breezed an energetic four furlongs in :48.46 Sunday morning in preparation for a start in next Saturday's GI Xpressbet.com Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.
The Jonathan Thomas-trained colt worked in company with an unraced maiden stablemate before galloping out five furlongs impressively under exercise rider Tracey Price [video].
“We were looking for something for him to get into a good rhythm and let the work open up timewise,” said Thomas. “They went in 24-and-change, and then finished up the last quarter in 24 and galloped out the five-eighths nicely in 1:01-and-change. Then, I wanted to be careful and shut it down, because the horse tends to gallop out pretty strong. You have to be a little careful because a half-mile work could quickly turn into a three-quarter mile work with him.”
Catholic Boy, most recently second in the GIII Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa Feb. 10, settled into stride on the backstretch before pulling alongside his workmate on the turn and quickly drawing clear through the stretch with little encouragement from his rider.
MV Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, John Oxley and Markus Jooste's Mississippi (Pioneerof the Nile) also put himself into consideration for the Florida Derby with a sharp half-mile work early Sunday morning. Working in company with maiden-winning stablemate Shanghai Noon, Mississippi covered four furlongs in :49.45 at Palm Meadows. The time ranked fourth of 36 horses at the distance.
“I couldn't have been more pleased,” trainer Mark Casse said. “He finished up really nice and galloped out strong. He's ready. If he has a good week this week we're going to run him in the Florida Derby.”
Mississippi is unraced since finishing a close second in a Feb. 4 optional claimer behind Storm Runner (Get Stormy). Prior to that effort, he finished second behind Saturday's GII Louisiana Derby winner Noble Indy (Take Charge Indy) in another allowance event at Gulfstream Jan. 11.
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