Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.Elysium Fields Getting Ready For Florida Derby
Posted on Wednesday, March 12th, 2008
Elysium Fields, runner-up in last month’s $350,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) behind 2008 Kentucky Derby contender Cool Coal Man, worked Wednesday morning at Gulfstream Park in preparation for South Florida’s signature event, the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) on Saturday March 29.
Under exercise jockey Kristen Troxell, the son of El Prado worked five furlongs in a ‘bullet’ 59 seconds over Gulfstream’s ‘fast’ main track.
“He looked good,” said horse trainer Barclay Tagg who also trained 2003 Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide. “You try not to get too excited because this business can shatter you at any time, but I wouldn’t necessarily change places with anyone right now.”
After breaking his maiden impressively by eight lengths at Gulfstream Park last January 19, Robert Evans’ 3-year-old Elysium Fields nearly ran down Robert LaPenta’s Cool Coal Man in the Fountain of Youth Stakes on February 24.
Elysium Fields has never finished worse than third and has been posting weekly drills before and after the Fountain of Youth, pleasing his trainer each time.
“He’s training really good,” Barclay Tagg said. “He had his maintenance work last week, and for this one, I was looking for his normal effort, which he gave me. He usually puts in his works, around 59. He might not have the experience of some of the others, but he should move forward.”
Horse trainer Barclay Tagg remains high on Charles Fipke’s Tale of Ekati despite that 3-year-old’s sixth-place finish in last Saturday’s Louisiana Derby (G2) at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, in what was his 2008 debut.
“His head was sideways when the gates opened. It took away any chance he had,” said Tagg of the Tale of the Cat colt’s 6 1/2 length loss to Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Pyro.
Tagg said Tale of Ekati would point toward the $750,000 Wood Memorial (G1) at Aqueduct on April 5.
Joyce Young and Gerald McManis’ 4-year-old filly Bit of Whimsy worked soon after Elysium Fields Wednesday morning. The Grade 1 winner breezed five furlongs in 59 4/5.
Tagg also reported Joseph Joyce’s 5-year-old Irish-bred Cougar Bay was doubtful for Sunday’s $150,000 Mac Diarmida Handicap (G2) at Gulfstream Park, citing the quick three-week turnaround from the gelding’s fourth-place finish in the Gulfstream Park Turf (G1) on February 23.
www.gulfstreampark.com
"Elysium Fields Getting Ready For Florida Derby" was posted on Wednesday, March 12th, 2008 at 9:02 pm and is filed under Gulfstream Park, Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Race Tracks News, Stakes Races, USA Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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