Frisky Spider Spins Trainer's Head in Work

(from Gulfstream Park notes)
Frisky Spider's seven-furlong workout in preparation for Saturday's $250,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) for 3-year-olds at Gulfstream Park had trainer Bob Durso excited Sunday morning.

Clockers caught the son of Frisk Me Now in 1:28 over a fast track. Durso proclaimed himself happy with the drill and the easy way Frisky Spider moved. He said he was confident going into next weekend's pivotal step on the road to the Florida Derby (gr. I), making comparisons to Frisky Spider's sire, a winner of several stakes under Durso's care starting in 1996.

"By this time Frisk Me Now had raced about seven times," said Durso. "That one was a little slower to come around and show us what he had. This one has been with it from the first time he ran. It's been a lot easier."

Frisky Spider has won all three of his starts so far including a pair of allowance victories last month. He now moves into a showdown with Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) winner Second of June, whose performance in that race earned high marks and high figures. Durso felt slighted that Frisky Spider had not earned such big figures after his races.

"I can't knock any horse, especially one like him, but I just can't see how he earned a 108 Beyer (Speed Figure)," said Durso. "He won going away, but I look at the horses behind him and I'm not that impressed. If I'd been in a race with him that day, I'd have been five in front and he'd have had to come catch me."

Durso said Frisky Spider galloped out a mile in 1:42 4/5 Sunday.