Horses to Watch for AGOS visitors.  Put these runners in your Stable Watch email service.

Turfway Park

3/25/17

Race #6 – Classic Salsa – 6 1/2f all weather

Jack Gilligan in the irons and heavily backed at the windows. He was forced in tight and got knocked around at the half way point taking away some needed energy. The rider gave a good account by getting him back in the action finishing up with a solid show effort. A cleaner trip may have the Jeremiah O’Dwyer trainee right on the money next up.

Race #7 – Professor Snape – 6f all weather

Luis Saez in town for Wesley Ward for this mount on Spiral Day. First time starter sent off the odds-on chalk and made a game effort running second this day. Ward does magic with his second time starters back to the races, and the namesake of the Harry Potter series may have some added magic to offer next time he loads in the starting gate.

Race #10 – The G-3 Spiral Stakes- #8 Kitten’s Cat – 1 1/8 miles all weather

Luis Saez in the saddle for trainer Joe Sharp who was sent off the luke-warm favorite for the marquee race of the meet. He was in tight and knocked around quite a bit and forced to check. According to the Daily Racing Form, he bled and is being treated in Lexington, Kentucky. This may scrap plans to take him to Royal Ascot for owner Ken Ramsey, but I’m sure we’ll see good things to come when he returns to the races.

Race #12 – Curlin’s Lass – 6f all weather

Abel Lezcano was in the driver’s seat and started uncorking a rally. This daughter of Curlin was in full-stride six wide closing with a rush. This was her second start lifetime and she showed good promise this day for the Mark Thomas barn.

Sunland Park

3/26/17

Race #9 – The G-3 Sunland Derby – Hedge Fund –  1 1/8 on the main

Jose Ortiz had the call for Todd Pletcher as they shipped in from Gulfstream Park. Ortiz is known for being a solid gate rider and jumped to a quick lead and showed the way until the top of the stretch where he got a little leg weary and finished a game third. The pace may have been a little easier as the odds-on favorite Bronze Age from the Bob Baffert barn stumbled at the start and eased. I think we’ll see maturing three-year-old who can show the way right to the winner’s circle.