Weyburn Exits Gotham Upset in Good Order

Chiefswood Stables' Weyburn was in good order March 7, the morning after his 46-1 upset in the Gotham Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack, trainer Jimmy Jerkens reported. The Ontario homebred, making his sophomore and stakes debut, picked up 50 qualifying points toward a spot in the May 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs with the victory.

"He looked good and sound and it looked like he ate up pretty well," said Jerkens, whose lone Kentucky Derby starter Wicked Strong  finished fourth in the 2014 Run for the Roses. "He might be a little subdued and tired, but he'll bounce back quickly."

The next and final local Derby prep is the April 3 Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino (G2), in which a scale of 100-40-20-10 points will be on the line.

Jerkens said he was still unsure as to whether or not Weyburn would target a two-turn debut in the nine-furlong event.

"We'll nominate to all of the obvious races, but we don't know what we're doing yet," Jerkens said.

Weyburn is not Triple Crown nominated but Jerkens said the Pioneerof the Nile colt will likely be supplemented for $6,000. Any horse not nominated to the Triple Crown can be made eligible for that price by March 29. 

Klaravich Stables and trainer Chad Brown finsihed second and third in the Gotham with Crowded Trade and Highly Motivated, respectively. Brown's assistant Dan Stupp said they were pleased with Crowded Trade's Gotham effort, in which he missed by a nose. The Gotham was only the second start for the More Than Ready  colt after he won on debut Jan. 28 at Aqueduct.

"Crowded Trade validated his maiden win and moved forward a lot in his second start," Stupp said. "He broke better and put himself in the race better. He didn't quite get the job done so we're disappointed he didn't get the win but we're very pleased with the progression from first start to second start."

Highly Motivated made his first start in the Gotham since winning the Nov. 6 Nyquist Stakes at Keeneland. The son of Into Mischief  bobbled slightly at the start Saturday and displayed a moderate kick in the stretch to finish third 1 3/4 lengths behind his stablemate as the 4-5 favorite.

"I thought he ran great off the bench," Stupp said. "He got in a little trouble in the first quarter-mile of the race and finished up nicely. I think he'll move forward off the race."

Brown also has Klaravich Stables' Withers Stakes (G3) winner Risk Taking on the Derby trail. The Medaglia d'Oro  colt breezed a half-mile in :49 Saturday on the Belmont Park training track and is being pointed to the Wood Memorial.

"He worked great," Stupp said. "He's on target for the Wood."

Search Results Shows Progression in Busher

Brown and Klaravich came out on top in Saturday's Busher Invitational Stakes for 3-year-old fillies as Search Results made a victorious stakes debut in only her second start. Brown also finsihed third with Louis Lazzinnaro's The Grass Is Blue.

"Both fillies looked great this morning," Stupp said Sunday. "Obviously, Search Results ran a big race. She seems to be one that's progressing the right way."

Stupp said Brown had not yet indicated if both fillies would race back in the final local Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifier, the April 3 Gazelle Stakes (G2) at 1 1/8 miles.

"I would think one or both would go in that direction," Stupp said. "We know The Grass Is Blue will go that far. Search Results did just win going a mile so the natural progression would be a mile and an eighth."

Team D and Madaket Stables' Miss Brazil set the pace in the Busher, dueled with Search Results in the stretch, and was caught by half a length to finish second behind the winner. 

"I thought she did her very best and her effort was fantastic," trainer Tony Dutrow said of the Feb. 8 Ruthless Stakes winner. "I was impressed with her effort and was happy to see that she could get the mile, around one turn at least. There were so many positives that came with that performance yesterday, so I'm very happy with her."

Dutrow said Search Results showed great ability. He also said Miss Brazil didn't show signs of being overly exerted on Sunday morning, but will wait to see how much her career-long effort took out of her.

"I can't tell right now. She's quiet today, so in the upcoming days, we'll see what effect the race had on her, but she's quiet today," he said. "That was a big performance from a second-time starter to win. Miss Brazil is pretty good, so for a second-timer to beat her, that has to be a pretty good filly."

While impressed with her performance at one mile, Dutrow said he likely will skip the Gazelle.

"I think we're going to keep her the maximum at a mile. We're not going to go to the mile and an eighth race," he said. "I think six furlongs to a mile, that seems where she's most effective."