The Big Beast, 3YOs Prep for Wood Day Starts

King's Bishop (gr. I) winner The Big Beast and defending Carter Handicap (gr. I) winner Dads Caps turned in their final serious works March 28 at Aqueduct Racetrack for next Saturday's 115th running of the $400,000 Carter going seven furlongs.

Meanwhile, in Florida, Withers Stakes (gr. III) winner Far From Over tuned up for his upcoming role as one of the favorites for the April 4 marquee event at the Big A, the $1 million TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial (gr. I), New York's final prep race for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Also run that day in addition to the Wood and the Carter are the $300,000 Gazelle Stakes (gr. II) for 3-year-old fillies and the $300,000 Bay Shore (gr. III) for 3-year-old sprinters. First race post time for the 12-race card is 12:50 p.m. ET.

The Big Beast, who was sidelined after his victory in the seven-furlong King's Bishop at Saratoga Race Course and returned to action with a 1 1/4-length allowance victory on March 1 at Oaklawn Park, covered five furlongs in 1:00.01 on the Big A's inner track.

"We were happy with his comeback race and happy with his work this morning," said Tony Dutrow, who trains the 4-year-old son of Yes It's True   for Alex and Joanne Lieblong. "He hasn't changed much physically since he was a 3-year-old, but mentally he's much more confident. He knows what he's doing now."

Dutrow confirmed that Javier Castellano, who was 3-for-3 aboard The Big Beast last year, will ride again on Saturday.

Dads Caps, who has been off the board only once in 17 starts for owner Vince Scuderi, was clocked in 1:01.25 as he breezed five furlongs over the inner track. The 5-year-old homebred son of Discreet Cat   is 0-for-2 this year, having finished second to Salutos Amigos in the Toboggan (gr. III) and the Tom Fool Handicap (gr. III) at Aqueduct.

"He worked very, very good; we were very pleased," said trainer Rudy Rodriguez. "We don't have to face Salutos Amigos, but the race is a grade I, so it's going to be a tough race. He's a pretty consistent horse and always tries hard. He's been unlucky a couple times, but he always gives it his best. We've been very happy to have him around. Hopefully we can do it again this year; we know he likes the main track at Aqueduct."

Black Rock Thoroughbreds' Far From Over, a son of Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) winner Blame   who overcame a horrendous start to defeat fellow Wood hopeful El Kabeir in the Withers, breezed a half-mile in :48.98 seconds at Palm Beach Downs for trainer Todd Pletcher.

"(I brought him to Florida after the Withers) to try to take advantage of the better climate, with more reliable training conditions," said Pletcher. "I thought he worked very well. He's doing good, everything is on schedule; he'll fly up on Thursday (April 2)."

Pletcher, who is a three-time winner of the Wood, also will saddle Champagne Stakes (gr. I) winner Daredevil in the 1 1/8-mile race for Let's Go Stable, WinStar Farm, and the China Horse Club. Both the son of More Than Ready   and Zayat Stables' El Kabeir, who returned to win the Gotham (gr. III), are scheduled to breeze the morning of March 29 on the training track at Belmont Park.

Also working toward a possible start in the Wood on Saturday was the Kiaran McLaughlin-trained Classy Class, who went a half-mile in :48.69 at Belmont. Other notable workers included Bay Shore hopefuls Ackeret (four furlongs in :49.61 at Aqueduct), Final Chapter (five furlongs in 1:02.61 at Belmont), and El Deal (four furlongs in :48.67 at Belmont).