Gronkowski (Lonhro {Aus}), who races for Phoenix Thoroughbred, has been entered in the Listed Burradon S. going a mile over the Newcastle synthetic on Good Friday, instead of pursing a GI Kentucky Derby prep overseas, trainer Jeremy Noseda announced via Twitter. A winner of three of his five starts, including the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” conditions stakes last out on Mar. 7, Gronkowski was originally pointing to either a start in the GII Blue Grass S. at Keeneland or the GII Wood Memorial S. at Aqueduct, both on Apr. 7. However, if he had contested an American prep race, his 20 European Derby points would not have transferred Stateside and he would have started back at zero.
“It was always going to be three runs and then the Kentucky Derby if good enough, and now it will be a different pattern, with the third run at Newcastle,” Noseda told Racing Post. “All the races on the Kentucky Derby trail carry points, and my presumption was we could carry our European points to the Blue Grass, but it turns out we would be starting back on zero if we ran there, so instead we'll aim to build on the 20 points we already have here at Newcastle. If he went to America he'd probably have had to have finished first or second to get in the Kentucky Derby, so if something went wrong we'd be in trouble.”
Added Noseda, “Friday will reveal all. I can't control the others in the race, but I like Gronkowski and he's approaching the race in great nick. Jamie Spencer will ride.”
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