HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Spielberg breezed five furlongs Sunday morning at Santa Anita Park while tuning up for a scheduled start at Gulfstream Park in Saturday’s $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm at Xalapa.
Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, the son of Union Rags was timed in 59.40 seconds, the second fastest clocking of 81 workouts recorded at the distance.
“He went well. He’s very workmanlike and he’s steady,” Baffert said. “He’s doing well.”
Spielberg is slated to make his third 2021 start in the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby, which has produced the winners of 60 Triple Crown events.
In his 2021 debut, the Kentucky-bred colt stumbled at the start of the Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita before finishing fourth behind Baffert-trained winner Medina Spirit. He then finished second Feb. 27 in the Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn Park behind unbeaten Essential Quality.
Spielberg had a productive six-race juvenile campaign, in which he finished second in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and third in the American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita before breaking his maiden in his fourth start. He went on to win the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) two starts later.
Javier Castellano has the mount on Spielberg, who is owned by SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Golconda Stables, Siena Farm LLC and Robert Masterson.
Greatest Honour Pleases McGaughey in Sunday Breeze
Courtlandt Farms’ Greatest Honour tuned up for the Florida Derby with a half-mile breeze at Payson Park Sunday morning, pleasing his Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.
“He’s not a good work horse, but I thought this was a lot like his work before the Fountain of Youth, maybe better,” McGaughey said.
Greatest Honour, who is coming off an impressive off-the-pace win in the Feb. 27 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream, was timed in 50.40 seconds.
“I liked the way he worked. The other day, he went off a little quicker than I wanted,” McGaughey said. “I impressed upon [the rider] to just let him ease away from the pole and finish up strong, which he did. I got the last quarter in 13-and-change.”
The son of Tapit broke his maiden in his fourth career start December 26 at Gulfstream before capturing the Jan. 30 Holy Bull (G3) by 5 ¾ lengths and establishing himself as a prime Triple Crown candidate with a going-away 1 ½-length victory in the Fountain of Youth.
Also at Payson Park Sunday morning, Michael P. Shanley’s Nova Rags breezed three furlongs in 38.60 seconds for the Florida Derby.
“His works have been very steady,” Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said. “He’s worked well enough here at Payson Park and I think he’s plenty fit.”
Nova Rags is coming off a second-place finish behind Mott stablemate Candy Man Can in the Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs, where the son of Union Rags won the seven-furlong Pasco by 2 ¾ lengths in his previous start.
At Gulfstream Park, Collaborate breezed five furlongs in 1:01.18 in preparation for making the leap from maiden company to a Grade 1 stakes in the Florida Derby. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained son of Into Mischief worked in company with Queen Nekia, the winner of the Royal Delta (G3) in her most recent start, who was timed in 1:02.49.
“The first eighth he went off a little slow in 14-and-change and picked it up after that. He galloped out well for the next eighth after the wire,” Joseph said. “Overall, I’m very pleased with the work. I’m happy with him.”
Collaborate graduated by 12 ½ lengths under wraps Feb. 27 the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) undercard while completing a one-turn mile in 1:36.35.
Gulfstream Park Press Release
Photo: Greatest Honour, (Ryan Thompson) & Collaborate, (Coglianese)
