Wood Memorial Could be the Next Target for Morello

Blue Lion Thoroughbreds, Craig Taylor and Diamond T Racing's Morello  remained a perfect 3-for-3 and now sits fourth on the Road to the Kentucky Derby standings after his 4 1/2-length score in the March 5 Gotham Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The next local stop on the Road to the Kentucky Derby is the nine-furlong April 9 $750,000 Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) which offers 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

Toby Sheets, Steve Asmussen's Belmont Park-based assistant, said following Saturday's test that the talented chestnut should be able to handle a stretch out in distance.

"I don't see why not. He definitely acts like it," Sheets said.

Sheets said Morello, who has worked almost exclusively over the Belmont dirt training track dating back to June 2021, has continued to improve with racing experience.

"Since he got here and through his last three races, he's really matured," Sheets said Sunday. "He looks good this morning. He ate up and everything. I'm happy with him."

Asmussen, who is still in search of a first Kentucky Derby score, also conditions Winchell Thoroughbreds' Epicenter , who tops the Road to the Kentucky Derby standings with 64 points.

Dean's List  and Golden Code  added their names to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard when running a respective second and third in Gotham for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.

Currently ninth on the leaderboard, Dean's List earned 20 points for his runner-up finish in the Gotham while stablemate Golden Code earned 10 points and currently sits at No. 26.

"Both looked good, ate up last night. We're happy where we're at with both of them," said Pletcher's Belmont-based assistant Byron Hughes.

Owned by breeder WinStar Farm in partnership with Siena Farm, Dean's List controlled a moderate tempo down the backstretch of the one-turn mile Gotham under Manny Franco, with Morello tracking a close second. Nearing the three-sixteenths pole the Speightstown   colt gave way to Morello, finishing behind the winner.

"I thought he ran well," Hughes said. "He fought hard there until the end. I thought he looked good, especially stretching out for the first time. He came back in good shape and we'll go from there."

Calumet Farm's Golden Code was forwardly placed and in the clear down the backstretch under Kendrick Carmouche. He battled to the inside of Life Is Great  down the stretch, getting the better of his stakes-placed foe to hold third by a head.

The son of Honor Code   entered the Gotham off a runaway 10 3/4-length maiden special weight win at second asking on Feb. 5 at Aqueduct.

"I think he's still learning a little bit," Hughes said. "Every race, he's maturing more and more. Kendrick did a good job of getting his face in the clear. He fought until the end also and it was an encouraging race for him as well."

Venti Valentine Kentucky Oaks Bound After Busher Victory

NY Final Furlong Racing Stable and Parkland Thoroughbreds' Venti Valentine earned a ticket to the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) following her dominating win in Saturday's Busher Invitational Stakes at the Big A, a one-turn mile for sophomore fillies which awarded 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top-four finishers.

Piloted by Manny Franco, the New York homebred daughter of Firing Line   stalked the pace set by Busanda winner Magic Circle  before taking command at the top of the stretch, drawing away to a seven-length victory in a final time of 1:39.65.

Dan Zanatta, who manages NY Final Furlong Racing Stable with Vince Roth, said the win was meaningful to his partnership, as Venti Valentine now sits second on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard with 54 points.

"The three-race plan was the Busher, the Gazelle and the Kentucky Oaks. Step one is complete," Zanatta said.

Roth said he is hopeful Venti Valentine will continue to improve with distance.

"We think she'll handle two turns better than she handled today, so it's onward," said Roth.

Jorge R. Abreu said he appreciates the opportunity to train for Venti Valentine's owners.

"I was looking at the replay and thought she ran really impressively," Abreu said. "The owners are great. They're a great group who gets very excited because they've never had a horse like this before. It's been a good run with them."

Abreu said that Venti Valentine will point to a start in the nine-furlong April 9 $250,000 Gazelle Stakes, which awards 100-40-20-10 qualifying points to the top-four finishers.

"We'll target the Gazelle and if everything goes good there, she'll be on her way to Churchill Downs," said Abreu. "We'll play it by ear and see how things turn out. Right now, we're just enjoying the moment."