DP Racing’s Ocho Ocho Ocho (Street Sense), winner of the Delta Jackpot (G3)
“(Assistant and exercise rider Matt Williams) said he feels like a lot bigger
Regarding choosing the Blue Grass instead of the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on
On March 7, Ocho Ocho Ocho finished eighth, beaten 15 lengths, in the San
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“He broke a tad slow and got banged around,” Cassidy said. “Tyler Baze’s
horse (The Gomper) was running off and we were bounced around, hitting the
rail. (San Felipe rider) Mike (Smith) said to throw that one out; he didn’t even
have a chance to run.”
“I would expect (to be on the lead),” Cassidy responded when asked if Ocho
Ocho Ocho would show speed in the Blue Grass. “I think it’s obvious.”
Marylou Whitney’s homebred Gorgeous Bird (Unbridled’s Song) jogged on the
main track a little after 6 a.m. Thursday with exercise rider Yoni Orantes up. A
winner of two of four career starts, the gray enters the Blue Grass off a
fifth-place finish in the Fountain of Youth (G2) on February 21 at Gulfstream.
“The track was very dry and cuppy that day,” trainer Ian Wilkes said. “It
tends to be a little quick and speed favoring on big days and that is a little
tough on closers. We just felt we needed to try him up here (instead of last
Saturday’s Florida Derby [G1]).”
Skychai Racing and Sand Dollar Stable’s Pepper Roani (Broken Vow) vanned over
from trainer Mike Maker’s base at Churchill’s Trackside Training Center. Maker
reported the colt galloped there Thursday morning before shipping.
Arriving the day before from the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland, Team
Valor International’s Unrivaled (Super Saver) made his first appearance on the
main track about 6:45 a.m., jogging once under Ross Montoya. His wife, Marya
(pronounced “Mariah”) Montoya, trains Unrivaled, a colt she claimed for $30,000
here in October for David Wright’s Waldorf Racing Stables.
Ross Montoya works on the starting gate at Parx, where Unrivaled has made his
three most recent starts. Following a second on December 9, the colt broke
his maiden by 15 lengths on December 23 and in his first race for Team Valor won
a March 15 allowance race by five lengths.
“His schedule’s been a little flexible because of this horse,” Marya said
about her husband.
Marya, who also exercises Unrivaled, said she was pleased with Unrivaled’s
first time back on the Keeneland track in nearly six months.
“We were just letting him loosen up,” she said. “He’s not going to get any
fitter between now and the race. Let him step out on the track, loosen up, look
around a little bit.”
After the exercise, the trainer walked Unrivaled in the walking ring outside
the barn.
“He’s a happy horse,” she said.
Marya Montoya said Unrivaled’s Friday plans are to jog again or walk the
shedrow, depending on the weather.
With Patti Krotenko aboard for assistant Dermott Magnier, Carpe Diem galloped
“He has the pedigree and the looks and is doing very well,” Walden said.
Banke also was pleased.
“I was happy with what I saw (today),” she said. “He likes this track and
Pletcher is scheduled to be at Keeneland Saturday morning through the race,
Mossarosa’s Frammento (Midshipman) visited the starting gate and then
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Trainer Nick Zito, who will be seeking a record fourth victory in the Blue
Grass, gave a nod of approval on the morning’s activities and expressed no
concern about an off-track possibility Saturday.
“He hasn’t run on an off track, but I don’t think it would bother him,” Zito
said. “The race isn’t until 6 and the only way the track can be off is if it
rains that day.”
Cheyenne Stables’ Classy Class (Discreetly Mine) turned in an easy gallop
once around the main track at about 9 a.m. Roger Horgan was aboard the colt,
trained by Kiaran McLaughlin.
Assistant trainer Austin Luttrell is pleased with how Classy Class has
settled in at Keeneland, where his daily routine includes time in the afternoon
to graze outside the barn.
“He ate everything last night, and he’s got his ears perked,” Luttrell said.
“He’s looking around and seems like he likes it here.”
John Oxley’s Danzig Moon (Malibu Moon) galloped 1 1/2 miles under exercise
rider Jason Hoyte before the morning renovation break.
Danzig Moon finished fourth in his debut here last October on the opening day
of the Fall Meet over a track that was labeled as good.
“He got away bad that day, made a good middle move and then flattened out,”
said Norman Casse, assistant to his father, trainer Mark Casse. “I don’t think
he got as much credit as he deserved for that race.
“He’s got a lot of talent, but did not have a lot of maturity in that first
race.”
Casse is hoping for a fast track Saturday afternoon.
“I’d prefer to see it fast,” Casse said. “But he is by Malibu Moon and his
offspring generally have good off-track form.”
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