Sabercat back on the work tab for a run in the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park
Winchell Thoroughbreds owned 3-year-old colt, Sabercat, has plenty of earnings to be eligible to run in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, when as a juvenile he downed the all important Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot at Delta Downs on 19 November, 2011.
But the colt hasn’t shown that form in his seasonal debut when he finished an uncharacteristic eighth in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on 17 March, 2012, at about 1 1/16 miles to winner, Secret Circle.
As a Kentucky Derby hopeful, Steven M. Asmussen trained colt, Sabercat, has a lot to prove, and thus the colt will be back at Oaklawn Park for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby on 14 April, 2012, going over a distance of 1 1/8 miles, where he could
meet his Rebel Stakes tormentor, Secret Circle.
The Kentucky bred son of Bluegrass Cat, out of mare Miner’s Blessing by Forty Niner, Sabercat without earnings in mind, and to prove his worth, returned to the work tab on 26 March, 2012, along with his stable mate at Oaklawn Park.
Sabercat worked in company with another Steven Asmussen trainee, Unbridled’s Note, who will be also trying to bounce back from a horrendous failure in his last race, after setting the pace going on steady but fading away way back in the stretch to post an
unplaced finish.
Though, according to trainer Steven Asmussen, Unbridled’s Note has been training real well with stable mate Sabercat, as the duo turned in five furlongs and was clocked in 1 minute and 1 4/5 seconds in their first drills after their disappointing finishes
in their respective races.
“They both breezed really good," said assistant trainer Mitch Denison. "Sabercat has settled in and is happy. He's made steady improvement, and it shows in his training. Unbridled's Note has been training great and working with Sabercat seems to make him
better."
The 3-year-old colt, Sabercat was based in Santa Anita Park prior to the Rebel Stakes, and the Garden State Stakes at Monmouth Park over a distance of 1 mile and 70 yards on 2 October, 2011, prior to winning the Delta Downs Jackpot.
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