Florida Derby Hero Materiality Tunes Up With ‘Super’ 5F Breeze Stablemates Stanford, Itsaknockout, Competitive Edge Also Work
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Alto Racing’s Materiality, who captured the $1 million Besilu Stables Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park on March 28, tuned up for a scheduled start in the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 2 with a sharp five-furlong breeze at Palm Beach Downs Saturday.
The undefeated Todd Pletcher-trained colt worked in company with Louisiana Derby (G2) runner-up Stanford. The stablemates were both timed in 1:00.52 for their final Triple Crown tune-ups at Palm Beach Downs before shipping to Kentucky Tuesday.
“It was a super work,†Pletcher said. “I’m very happy with him.â€
Daily Racing Form’s Mike Welsch, who clocked the important workout, reported that Materiality galloped out six furlongs impressively in 1:13.91.
Materiality has run all three of his races at Gulfstream, where he launched his career with a 4 ¼-length score in his six-furlong debut on Jan. 11. The son of Afleet Alex stretched out around two turns in spectacular fashion on March 6, winning the 1 1/8-mile Islamorada Stakes by 5 ¾ lengths. Making his graded-stakes debut in the Florida Derby, Materiality prevailed over favored Upstart by 1 ½ lengths at 1 1/8 miles.
Pletcher-trained Itsaknockout, the Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth (G2) winner through the disqualification of Upstart and the fourth-place finisher in the Florida Derby, breezed a half-mile in 48.17 seconds while working in company with Competitive Edge, his undefeated stablemate.
Following his busy early morning at Palm Beach Downs, Pletcher jetted to Kentucky to observe Blue Grass (G1) winner Carpe Diem breeze (48 seconds) at Keeneland later in the morning.
Materiality, Stanford and Itsaknockout are scheduled for final tune-ups at Churchill Downs next Saturday. Competitive Edge, who returned from a layoff of nearly seven months to capture the Tamarac Stakes at Gulfstream by 8 ¼ lengths on March 27, is slated to run next in the Pat Day Mile (G3) on the Kentucky Derby undercard.
Oasis At Midnight Seeks Relief in Sunday’s Sand Dollar Stakes
David Rousso’s Oasis At Midnight drops from graded-stakes company to compete in Sunday’s $60,000 Sand Dollar Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
The Joe Orseno-trained mare closed to finish fourth in both the Rampart (G3) and the Royal Delta (G2) in her two most recent starts at Gulfstream. In her two prior starts, the daughter of Midnight Lute captured a seven-furlong allowance and finished second in a mile optional claiming allowance during the Championship Meet.
The mile Sand Dollar, the sixth-race on a nine-race card, attracted a field of seven fillies and mares.
“She’s doing great. We hung around for this race. It’s a little easier company. It’s not her greatest distance, but she’ll be OK going a one-turn mile,†said Orseno, who is stabled at Monmouth Park during the summer months. “She’s been showing up every time. I was going to ship her to Aqueduct and run her in a stake up there, but I decided to keep her here for this.â€
Orlando Bocachica, who rode in a race Friday for the first time since breaking an arm and his jaw in a racing spill on Jan. 14, has been named to ride. Bocachica has ridden Oasis At Midnight three times with a victory and two second-place finishes.
The Marty Wolfson-trained duo of Onna Bugeisha and Quiet Hour loom as Oasis At Midnight’s most dangerous rivals. Onna Bugeisha, who is set to make her first start for Miller Racing and Wolfson, was stakes-placed in Southern California. Miller Racing’s Quiet Hour is coming off a third-place finish in the Orange Blossom at Gulfstream last time out.
Flutterby, Imposing Grace, Light Bringer and Don’tcallmecharley round out the field.
