Daredevil, Frosted Post Final Works for Wood

A pair of contenders put their final works in March 29 for the $1 million Twinspires.com Wood Memorial (gr. I), in advance of the April 4 race at Aqueduct Racetrack.

 

Daredevil, working over the Belmont Park training track, went four furlongs in :48.85, powering away from a stablemate in the stretch for trainer Todd Pletcher.

 

"I thought he did it very well," said Byron Hughes, assistant to Pletcher. "He looked good doing it, went very easily, and galloped out strong. We're definitely happy with the work. It didn't start out as planned (with Daredevil breaking a few lengths in front of his training partner), but the rider adapted and had a good hold of him."

 

A son of More Than Ready  , Daredevil has made only one start as a 3-year-old, a second-place finish in the seven-furlong Swale (gr. II) March 7 at Gulfstream Park. As a juvenile, the chestnut colt captured the Champagne (gr. I) at Belmont before finishing 11th in the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita Park, his only start around two turns.

 

"He's very similar to what I saw last year," said Hughes, who oversees Pletcher's New York string during the winter. "Whenever I watch him, I think he can do just about anything."

 

Also on the work tab was Frosted, for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and Godolphin Racing, who logged a five-eighths drill in 1:00.45 at Palm Meadows in Florida. Breezing in company with a pair of horses, Frosted commenced the work behind by a few lengths, but finished ten in front, according to McLaughlin.

 

Frosted, a son of Tapit  , is looking to rebound off a fourth-place finish in the Fountain of Youth (gr. II). Wearing blinkers for the first time in the Fountain of Youth, Frosted pressed a fast pace over a taxing Gulfstream main track and appeared poised to have an impact on the finish, but tired badly in the stretch.

 

"We feel like we've accounted for every issue and he has no excuse not to run his best race," McLaughlin said. "We know he has talent. He has to show it on Saturday. The track was very tiring for the Fountain of Youth and was again yesterday (for the Florida Derby), so we're happy with our decision."

 

Ocean Knight, a McLaughlin trainee still under consideration for the Wood, will breeze Monday, after which a decision will be made, McLaughlin said. The Curlin   colt has not run since a seventh-place finish in the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) March 7.