Trainers Outline Plans for Old Homestead, Sy Dog

Trainer Brett Brinkman came to Keeneland this week from Louisiana with hopes of grabbing a stakes victory or two, and he struck early when Old Homestead  scored by 3 3/4 lengths in the $400,000 Lafayette Stakes April 8. 

A homebred Overanalyze  colt for Marablue Farm and Pegasus Stud, Old Homestead has won his three starts by a combined 21 lengths. His first two victories came at Delta Downs Racetrack going five furlongs, which preceded his victory in the seven-furlong Lafayette.

Now a longer one-turn race could be in the cards.

“The Pat Day Mile (G2) is under consideration,” Brinkman said of the $500,000 race at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day, May 7. “He will stay (in Kentucky) until at least the middle of May."

“I’m planning now for the summer and I’d like to get one more race before Saratoga and look at a race maybe like the Amsterdam Stakes (G2).”

Another undefeated stakes winner from Friday could stay in Kentucky or embark on a longer trip this spring. Head of Plains Partners' Sy Dog , winner of the Kentucky Utilities Transylvania Stakes (G3T), is under consideration for a trip to England to run at Royal Ascot or race at Churchill Downs in the American Turf (G2T) on Derby Day.

Making his first start in four months, Sy Dog, a son of Slumber  , swept to the lead in the Transylvania at the eighth pole and went on to win by three-quarters of a length.