Almost Famous works for KY Jockey Club; Canaryinacoalmine
breezes into Golden Rod
Trainer Pat Byrne took a look at weather forecasts over the next few days and
decided that Thursday was the best shot at good conditions for the final
pre-race work for Almost Famous, a contender for
the 87th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Kentucky Jockey Club on November 30 at
Churchill Downs.
Therefore, the two-year-old son of Unbridled’s Song headed to the
fast main track at Churchill just after the morning maintenance break and
breezed three furlongs in :36 2/5 under jockey Corey Lanerie.
“The weather looked like it was going to be a little rough
for the weekend and our track was in super shape this morning, so I took
advantage of it,” Byrne said. “We had a good morning and we got all we wanted.
He’s all set for next Saturday.”
Almost Famous will enter the Kentucky Jockey Club off an
impressive six-length victory in a November 9 Churchill allowance race at the
Kentucky Jockey Club distance of 1 1/16 miles. All three of his career races
have come under the Twin Spires and include a maiden victory in September followed
by a disappointing fourth-place run behind Coastline in the Street
Sense overnight stakes on October 27.
Also working toward a possible Kentucky Jockey Club bid on
Thursday was Ichiban Warrior, who sped a half-mile in :47 4/5. The move was the
second fastest of 27 at the distance.
The Todd Pletcher-trained son of First Samurai was runner-up in the Street
Sense in his most recent outing, which followed a 7 1/2-length maiden romp at
Keeneland in early October.
Known probable starters for the Kentucky Jockey Club include Awesome Sky, Dobra Historia and Laddie
Boy. Considered possible are Culprit, Financial Mogul and Sheikinator.
A sharp Thursday morning work by
Canaryinacoalmine has put the two-year-old daughter of Birdstone in the picture
for the 70th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Golden Rod sending juvenile
fillies 1 1/16 miles on the “Stars of Tomorrow II” program, the same day as the
Kentucky Jockey Club.
The Steve Margolis-trained filly, who was a 3 1/2-length
winner in a six-furlong maiden race on the October 27 “Stars of Tomorrow I” program, zipped five furlongs over a fast track in 1:00
4/5. The move ranked as
second-fastest of 15 on the day.
Margolis spoke with Dan Hall of owner Hidden Brook after the work,
and said the Golden Rod is now a possibility for the filly.
“It going to be a tough race, but she is improving and
she’s got a pedigree that says she’ll run long,” Margolis said. “There’s also an
allowance the same day and we’ve got a few days to think about it. But right now
we’re leaning towards the Golden Rod.”
With the addition of Canaryinacoalmine, known probable
starters for the Golden Rod include Bird Maker, Madly Truly, Naïve Enough, Playful Love, Stonetastic, Streethomealabama and Vexed. Possible
runners include Daddy’s Memory, Room
Service and Spangled Banner.
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