Bluegrass Cat, Private Vow Lead Florida Drills

(from Gulfstream and Santa Anita notes)
Triple Crown contenders Bluegrass Cat and Private Vow were among several 3-year-olds working at Palm Meadows and Gulfstream Park Sunday morning.

WinStar Farm's Bluegrass Cat led a team of Todd Pletcher-trained stars on the Palm Meadows tab. The Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) prospect breezed an easy five-eighths in 1:02 1/5. The son of Storm Cat is expected to make his season debut in Saturday's $125,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, his first start since capturing the Remsen Stakes (gr. II) at Aqueduct Nov. 26.

Another prominent Kentucky Derby hopeful on the Palm Meadows tab was Michael McCarty's Private Vow. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the son of Broken Vow   was timed five-eighths in 1:01 1/5, his third recorded workout this year. Asmussen has not set a definite schedule for Private Vow's first start since capturing the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II) at Churchill Downs Nov. 26.

Another Pletcher 3-year-old, Peachtree Stable's High Cotton, a son of Dixie Union who was second to Private Vow in the KJC, went five furlongs in 1:02 1/5 at Palm Meadows.

Prominent on the Gulfstream work tab Sunday morning was Live Oak Plantation's 3-year-old Hesanoldsalt, one of trainer Nick Zito's top young prospects. The homebred son of Broad Brush was an impressive allowance winner over the track Jan. 15. He worked a sharp five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 and is expected to face Bluegrass Cat in the Sam Davis Saturday.

Trainer John Ward sent John Oxley's homebred 3-year-old Dr. Pleasure out for his first recorded workout this year, breezing a half-mile in :48 2/5 at Gulfstream. The son of Thunder Gulch out of Eclipse champion Beautiful Pleasure, hasn't run since finishing seventh of 14 behind Eclipse champion Stevie Wonderboy in the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) at Belmont Park Oct. 29.

At Santa Anita, San Rafael (gr. II) winner Brother Derek breezed five furlongs Sunday in a bullet :59 2/5 under regular rider Alex Solis for the March 4 Santa Catalina Stakes (gr. II).

"It was a little faster than I wanted," trainer Dan Hendricks said, "but he did it so easy that it's fine. I got him galloping out in 1:13."

Bob Baffert clarified that Sham Stakes (gr. III) winner Bob and John is pointing to the March 18 San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) at 1 1/16 miles and not the Santa Catalina at the same distance on March 4.

"But I do plan to run Point Determined in the Santa Catalina," Baffert said.