Dean's List
'TDN Rising Star' Wit (Practical Joke) launches his 3-year-old campaign against nine rivals in Saturday's GIII Bay Shore S. After beginning his career with a pair of blowout victories despite awkward breaks, led by Saratoga's GIII Sanford S., the 2-1 Bay Shore morning-line favorite was second after stumbling at the start in the GI Hopeful S. Sept. 6 and a well-beaten third in the GI Champagne S. most recently Oct. 2. "He's doing really well," Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. "We got a good work into him Sunday....
Morello (Classic Empire) looks to take his perfect record to three-for-three and take his first steps down the GI Kentucky Derby trail in Aqueduct's GIII Gotham S. Saturday. A dominant debut winner going six panels at this oval Nov. 27, the $250,000 EASMAY purchase ran to the money with a five-length score in the Big A's Jimmy Winkfield S. Feb. 6. "Morello looks like he could potentially be something special," Dave Lyon of Blue Lion Thoroughbreds said. "I think it's just a perfect race set up for a horse like...
5th-Gulfstream, $55,400, Alw (NW1$X)/Opt. Clm ($75,000), 1-8, 3yo, 6f, 1:09.34, ft, neck. DEAN'S LIST (c, 3, Speightstown--Mildly Offensive {MSW, $285,826}, by Sharp Humor) was an easy last out winner on career debut, taking the Dec. 11 track-and-trip contest by 5 1/2 lengths. Hammered down to 1-5 favoritism for this sophomore bow while receiving first-time Lasix, the WinStar homebred was jostled a bit at the break, but recovered quickly to emerge from the center of the pack as the controlling speed. Rolling into the final turn off a brisk :22.13 opening...
4th-GP, $60k, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 1:27 p.m. ET Several in this race carry nice price tags but IRON WORKS (Distorted Humor) on the outside catches the eye first as a $550,000 purchase from last year's OBS April sale (:10 1/5) for MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm. The runner is a half to one other winner from GISP Silverpocketsfull (Indian Charlie), herself out of MGSP Unforgotten (Northern Afleet) and a half to another graded stakes-placed horse. Particular (Classic Empire) one down in the gate is part of the first 3-year-old crop for...
4th-Gulfstream, $53,000, Msw, 12-11, 2yo, 6f, 1:09.92, ft, 5 1/2 lengths. DEAN'S LIST (c, 2, Speightstown--Mildly Offensive {MSW, $285,826}, by Sharp Humor) drifted out from odds-on to be the 6-5 post-time second choice, but graduated with honors. Heavily favored before being overtaken late in the wagering by Positive Review (Unified), a big-figure second on his course-and-distance debut Oct. 16, Dean's List showed first from his outside gate and took the sit from second as fellow firster Felix (Cupid) showed the way at the inside through a swift opening quarter in...