Gemologist to take on Alpha again in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs
WinStar Farm’s Gemologist stayed undefeated after winning the Grade 1, $1 million Resorts World Casino New York City Wood Memorial at Aqueduct race course, where he pulled away in the deep stretch with only Alpha to contend with, showed he is the real deal
as he inched clear at the wire defeating his adversary by a mere neck to proceed as an undefeated colt going in to the Kentucky Derby.
Todd Pletcher trained son of Tiznow, made a huge statement by winning the Wood Memorial, as the other early favourites failed to make their mark in their recent prep races. Union Rags fell away in the Florida Derby and most recently Creative Cause giving
way to I’ll Have Another in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby.
Todd Pletcher sent Gemologist to Palm Meadows Training Center at the crack of Sunday morning, where he will train ahead of the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, and the good news is that he came out of the race perfect.
He will remain in Florida till 1 May, 2012, and from there he will be sent to Churchill Downs for the Run for the Roses.
“The tentative schedule is for him to breeze twice between now and the Derby, then fly to Kentucky on May 1," Pletcher reported. "We'll leave the option to call an audible if we so chose, but as long as we're happy with the conditions down here, that's the
plan.”
Out of mare Crystal Shard by Mr. Prospector, Gemologist has $600,000 in earnings, and in the Wood Memorial he was able to strike a 98 Beyer Speed Figure while he covered the 1 1/8 mile distance in 1 minute and 50.96 seconds.
On the other hand, Alpha is also pointing at the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. According to the trainer, Alpha did everything right and he has come out of the race fine.
“With Alpha we’re thinking about where we go, what we do, and how we get there, but we’re pointing for May 5,” McLaughlin said. “He came out of the race great. He did everything right.”
Another mouthwatering encounter between the two awaits us in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, and with other top notch runners thrown in the mix, it is all building up to be an exciting Derby race.
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