Trainer Nick Zito and jockey Jerry Bailey, the connections for even-money favorite Birdstone who drew the rail for the $500,000 Lane's End Stakes, will also join forces Saturday with El Prado Rob, who drew the rail for the Rushaway Stakes on the undercard. Zito has also Pies Prospect entered in the $100,000 race for 3-year-olds.
The Rushaway, run the race before the Lane's End and also part of the live coverage on ESPN2 (3:30-4:30 EST), will be run at 1 1/16 miles, a 1/16th shorter than the feature. Ten sophomores, who will each carry 114 pounds, passed the entry box.
El Prado Rob, a son of
El Prado out of the
Seeking the Gold mare Jurisprudence owned by Robert LaPenta, is winless in two starts this year, but both efforts came in graded stakes. After running third in the Futurity Stakes (gr. I) last year, El Prado Rob has made two starts in South Florida this year, running fourth behind Second of June, Silver Wagon, and Friends Lake in the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) on Jan. 17, and fourth again in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) on Feb. 14. Both races were at Gulfstream Park.
Pies Prospect is also owned by LaPenta. A son of
Crafty Prospector--Hot Pillow, by Bates Motel, Pies Prospect will be making his stakes debut in the Rushaway. He also has run fourth in a pair of starts at Gulfstream, but against allowance company. He drew post three and will be ridden by Rafael Bejarano, not only the meet's leading rider, but the leading rider in the country by number of wins.
Also figuring to draw some attention are Tales of Glory and Uncivil.
Tales of Glory, by Honour and Glory hails from trainer Todd Pletcher. While he has not started since an eighth-place finish in the Delta Downs Jackpot in December, he was impressive in maiden and allowance victories in New York last fall. Robby Albarado will ride.
Mount Joy Stable's Uncivil, trained by Dallas Stewart, moves from turf to dirt in the Rushaway off a fifth-place finish in a 1 1/16th-mile grass race at Fair Grounds on Feb. 28. Prior to that, the son of
Wild Again broke his maiden going a mile on the main track at the New Orleans track. He worked a half-mile in :48 4/5 on March 14.
Rushaway Stakes, $100,000, 3-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles, Turfway Park, Saturday, March 20PP, Horse, Jockey
1, El Prado Rob, Jerry Bailey
2, Revolver Six, David Flores
3, Pies Prospect, Rafael Bejarano
4, Uncivil, Mark Guidry
5, Boston Brahmin, Jon Court
6, Gamblin, Cornelio Velasquez
7, Iron Rogue, Pablo Fragoso
8, Brass Hat, Jason Lumpkins
9, Tales of Glory, Robby Albarado
10, Thelionshare, Eddie Zuniga
