SON OF SAINT LIAM TO HAVE SURGERY, OFF FOR 60 TO 90 days

Jack Will
Gulfstream Park

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Zayat Stable’s 3-year-old Eskendereya worked an easy five furlongs in 1:02 2/5 Sunday morning at Palm Meadows as he is kept on edge for next Saturday’s $750,000 Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park, leading a team of a dozen stakes runners on the work tab from trainer Todd Pletcher’s arsenal of talent this winter.

A son of Giant’s Causeway, Eskendereya romped home an 8½ lengths winner of the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) last out on Feb. 20 over the track and 1 1/8 miles distance of the Florida Derby and will likely be a heavy favorite for the 59th edition of Gulfstream’s historic Kentucky Derby (G1) preview.

Buddy’s Saint also worked five furlongs in 1:01.30, but following the workout he was off in his right front and trainer Bruce Levine had him X-rayed. A bone chip was found in his right front ankle and Levine said the colt would have surgery and would be off 60 to 90 days, taking him off the Kentucky Derby trail. Levine said the son of Saint Liam would be brought back for a summer and fall campaign.

Earning the ‘bullet’ for five furlongs on the Palm Meadows tab Sunday morning was Ol’ Memorial Stables and C.E. Glasscock’s Soaring Empire, timed in 1:00 2/5 for trainer Cam Gambolati, fastest of 43 at the distance as he tunes up for the Florida Derby. The son of 2003 Florida Derby winner Empire Maker will likely be a longshot as he makes his fourth career start and first around two turns. Eddie Castro, aboard for the work, will ride the colt in the Florida Derby on Saturday, March 20.

Four other probable/possible Florida Derby starters worked over the Gulfstream track Sunday morning with Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Pleasant Prince timed a ‘bullet’ five-eighths in 59 1/5 for trainer Wesley Ward. The son of Indy King finished fourth last out in the Fountain of Youth, beaten 10 ¼ lengths by Eskendereya.

“I was really excited going into the race (Fountain of Youth),” said Ward Friday afternoon. “The horse was training great. I’ve always felt since we bought the horse that he was going to be something special, and I think he’s starting to emerge into what his potential is. Hopefully, he is one that is a late developer and will come around quickly to get us the big one (Florida Derby).”

Donald Dizney’s Florida homebred First Dude worked five furlongs in 1:02 for trainer Dale Romans as he prepares to make his stakes debut in the Florida Derby. The son of Stephen Got Even finished second in two starts in Kentucky last year, broke his maiden going a mile here on Jan. 30 in his 3-year-old debut and finished a game second in a 1 1/8 miles allowance race last out on Feb. 21.

Two others on the ‘possible’ Florida Derby list working at Gulfstream Sunday morning were Gainesway Stable’s Tempted to Tapit, five furlongs in 59 4/5 for trainer Steve Klesaris; and Michael Imperio and Kona Stable’s filly Christine Daae, six furlongs in 1:11 flat for trainer Patrick Biancone.

Tempted to Tapit finished second to Discreetly Mine in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds last out on Feb. 20 shipping in from Klesaris’ Gulfstream barn. His connections are weighing whether to run the roan/gray Tapit gelding here Saturday in the Florida Derby or return to New Orleans for the Louisiana Derby (G2) a week later on Mar. 27.

Biancone plans to run Flying Zee Stable and Kona Stable’s Pulsion in the Florida Derby after the son of Include finished sixth with trouble in the Fountain of Youth and has also nominted Christine Daae to the Florida Derby as well as the $200,000 Bonnie Miss Stakes (G2) over the track and distance earlier on the card.

A chestnut daughter of Giant’s Causeway, Christine Daae has won both of her starts at the meet after a fourth-place career debut last summer at Hollywood Park. She broke her maiden by 8¾ lengths here going seven furlongs on Jan. 15 and came back to score by 2¾ lengths going 1 1/8 miles on Feb. 28.