Dance With Fate Looks 'Great' at Santa Anita

Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) winner Dance With Fate drilled four furlongs on the Santa Anita Park main track April 26 in :47 flat for trainer Peter Eurton, his final major workout before shipping out to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

"He looked great," the trainer said of the Southern California-based Dance With Fate. "He galloped out (five furlongs) in a minute. He was just kind of cruising along. Amir Cedeno worked him; he always works him. I get good feedback from the guy who knows him better."

It was the Two Step Salsa  colt's first drill since he scored a 1 3/4-length win in the Blue Grass April 12. Corey Nakatani, who was aboard the 6-1 shot for the first time in the victory over the Keeneland Polytrack, has the return mount in the Derby.

Eurton had contemplated working Dance With Fate on the turf, but aborted those plans.

"We had a little dust of rain and we were off the turf," Eurton said. "But it was a little slippery and I would not have worked him on the turf anyway."

Dance With Fate is scheduled to leave on an early morning flight April 28 from Ontario, Calif. "I'll be a couple hours after that," Eurton said.

Running for owners Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stable, and Ciaglia Racing, Dance With Fate has won three of eight lifetime starts while earning $680,050.

Looking ahead to the May 3 Derby, Eurton said he would play Tuesday by ear with regard to the colt's training.
       
"He may jog Tuesday and then will gallop Wednesday through Friday," Eurton said, adding that he has no plans for a blowout.

"Not in this barn," Eurton said.
       
In Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) news at Santa Anita, Arnold Zetcher and Michael Tabor's Fashion Plate worked five furlongs in company for Simon Callaghan in 1:00 2/5, her final major drill for the May 2 race at Churchill Downs.

"She worked great," Callaghan said of the Las Virgenes Stakes and Santa Anita Oaks (both gr. I) victress. "It was what we were looking for, a maintenance kind of breeze. She looked super. She'll walk tomorrow and then she'll ship on Monday (April 28)."

The work, Fashion Plate's second since winning the April 25 Santa Anita Oaks, was the 11th swiftest of 53 at the distance. The daughter of Old Fashioned has won three of five lifetime starts and earned $459,250.

"I will be flying in Tuesday," Callaghan said. "She will probably jog Tuesday."

Gary Stevens has the mount in the Oaks.