Drysdale to Use Derby Trial as Prep for Flying Dash

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Trainer Neil Drysdale said Fusao Sekiguchi's Flying Dash will run in the April 27 Derby Trial Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs and then go on to the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) if the German-bred performs well in the one-turn mile event.

"He went three-eighths in :40 or something, just cruising," said Drysdale of Flying Dash's Friday morning work. Drysdale said the son of Dashing Blade will work twice more before the Derby.

A Derby run for Flying Dash, or Drysdale-trained Sunday Break, is not certain at this point. Both might be cut from the field due to a lack of graded stakes earnings. Sunday Break has $82,500 in graded stakes earnings; Flying Dash has $57,370.

"If it happens, it happens," said Drysdale. "There seems to always be some horses drop out as the race draws near."

In his American racing debut, Flying Dash won the listed Transylvania Stakes on the Keeneland turf course. He has yet to race on dirt.

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