Tom Ryan of co-owner SF Racing confirmed March 15 that the undefeated colt Taj Mahal will make his next start in the $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack April 4. The 1 1/8-mile test for sophomores awards 100-50-25-15-10 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs May 2.
"The notion is he'll take his shot in the Wood Memorial," Ryan said. "He's done nothing wrong so far, and he's ran himself up the ladder while improving his numbers. He's got some nice time in between after his first two starts were close together. I personally believe the distance is not going to be an issue for him, the question is just if he has the ability to compete with the field that will line up."
Trained by Brittany Russell, the son of Nyquist made a winning debut sprinting 6 furlongs at Laurel Park Feb. 6. Just 15 days later, Taj Mahal wheeled back for a win in the one-turn mile Miracle Wood at the Maryland oval.
READ: Taj Mahal, Peach Tie Sweep Laurel Stakes for Russells
"That stake came back up two weeks off his first run, but we felt in his first run he did it all well within himself," Ryan said. "Brittany said he gave all the indications he had come out of it the right way and was enjoying himself. He lined right back up there, changed tactics, and went coast-to-coast. It was lovely to see some versatility, and it feels like he's got a good mind. He was in California for a while before we brought him East, and it's all worked out the way it was supposed to. He seems to act better on the East Coast surfaces than on the West."
Taj Mahal returned to the work tab Sunday, covering a half-mile in :50 4/5 over the Laurel Park dirt.
Taj Mahal was a $525,000 purchase by agent Donato Lanni at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for owners SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Bashor Racing, Determined Stables. Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan. He is out of the stakes-placed Quality Road mare Oola Gal, and his fourth dam is dual grade 1-winner and successful broodmare Strategic Maneuver.
Ryan said the consistent success of Nyquist as a sire helped place Taj Mahal on the ownership's shortlist of yearlings at Keeneland. Top progeny sired by Nyquist currently in training include Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Nysos for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, and multiple graded stakes-winner Knightsbridge for Hall of Famer Bill Mott.
"We put our minds to Nyquist and we're feeling like he's acquitted himself well for us," Ryan said. "We've got Litmus Test going to the Arkansas Derby, and we've got another colt named Kristofferson who we like a lot. The stallion is an elite sire, throwing horses like Nysos and Knightsbridge. It's remarkable what he's able to put on the ground, and his quality almost seems to be getting better if that's even possible. We became a fan of Nyquist based off Bob's experience with Nysos, and this is a colt Bob liked himself."
Ryan noted plans for other sophomores for the partnership, including the aforementioned Litmus Test, who is headed to the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park March 28 after a last-out third in the Rebel Stakes (G2) there March 1 for Baffert.
"Bob is very happy with him, and we are looking forward to the Arkansas Derby," Ryan said. "You're always disappointed not to win, but I wasn't discouraged by his effort in the Rebel, and I thought he still ran quite well."
Baffert also trains Cherokee Nation, who graduated at sixth asking by 10 lengths at Santa Anita Park Feb. 27, where he is expected to make his next start in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) April 4.
"What a cool horse he is. He did everything so effortlessly and it was a beautiful thing to see," Ryan said. "He's good and the target is the Santa Anita Derby."
Red Zone Runner pointed to Wood Memorial
Tom Coulter's Red Zone Runner dominated the City of Brotherly Love Stakes by 15 1/2 lengths at Parx Racing March 3 and is pointed to the Wood Memorial.
"We nominated him. That's the plan, this is where we are aiming," trainer Hugo Padilla said. "So far, that's the plan because the horse came out of his last race absolutely outstanding. He's doing very well, he's very happy. We couldn't have asked for any better."
The Practical Joke dark bay set the pace in the 1 1/16-mile City of Brotherly Love, piloted by Mychel Sanchez, and stopped the clock in 1:46.67 over the sloppy and sealed track. Red Zone Runner was making his first start for Padilla following four outings for trainer Erin McClellan, including stakes thirds in the Pennsylvania-bred Pennsylvania Nursery in November at Parx and the open-company Heft Stakes in December at Laurel Park.
"I felt like he'd run a big race because he was training absolutely beautifully," Padilla said. "The whole time I've had this horse, I've seen him growing, getting better and better. I was trying to run him earlier than his last race going longer, to get the lungs and the stamina to stretch him out, but I could not get races to go anywhere. We just took a shot at the stakes. We hoped for the best and he showed us he could handle the distance. He did it easily. He was impressive."
Red Zone Runner was making his first start beyond 7 furlongs and showed pacesetting tactics for the first time.
"The conversation with Mychel was that he might show speed, but he doesn't need the lead. If he goes and you feel comfortable on the lead, you go, but if somebody needs the lead, don't force him," Padilla said. "This horse doesn't really need the lead. He can come from off the pace. He got the easy lead, the fractions were solid, he could handle that pace."
New York-bred Bravaro probable for Wood Memorial
New York-bred stakes-winner Bravaro is likely headed north to Aqueduct for the Wood Memorial.
"The plan is that if all stays well and he's healthy, we'll go to the Wood," said Niall Brennan, who works in tandem with his wife Stephanie Brennan née Baltzan, co-owner and breeder of Bravaro. "He's won on the track twice, and we're confident he's a very nice horse. Whether he's a Derby horse, that remains to be seen. Obviously, he would have to show up in the Wood to progress on, but we feel like we've got a really nice New York-bred for the summer. We'll give him a shot and see if he belongs with that group, or we'll plan a different route for the summer."
The son of New York-bred Kentucky stallion Upstart was last seen finishing a troubled-trip fourth in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park Feb. 28, where he finished 11 lengths back of the victorious Commandment. The bay colt was making his second graded attempt after a game second-place effort to Nearly in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) in January, picking up 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points in each race for a total of 20.
"He came of the (Fountain of Youth) very good. Unfortunately, he did not get the trip that was planned, and I'm not sure how much difference it would have made, but he was supposed to be up close and he got shuffled back," Brennan said. "He was stuck on the rail with a lot of dirt (kickback), and he didn't get the chance to run his best race."
The Brennans operate their well-regarded training center in Ocala, F.L., while they keep about six broodmares at Ascendant Farm outside Saratoga Springs, N.Y., to foal each spring.
"We've always had our mares in New York. We like to have New York-breds, and it makes sense for us," Brennan said. "We aren't big breeders—we are more into training and the farm here (in Florida), but being New York-bred gives us more value if we are selling and if we end up racing them, the purses and awards are huge, so that's why we have them. The reality is that people want to race where the purses are healthy, and having the New York-bred stakes program is a big help. Outside of Kentucky, it's tough to be anywhere else."
Bravaro is also campaigned by Albert Ciuffetelli, Shining Stables, BAG Racing Stables, and Paul Braverman.
As a juvenile, Bravaro went a perfect 2-for-2 against fellow state-breds at the Big A, graduating by 1 length in his 6-furlong debut in September en route to a 2 1/2-length annexing of the state-bred Sleepy Hollow Stakes when stretched out to a 1-turn mile in October. He is trained by Saffie Joseph Jr.
"Physically, he's always been a nice horse. He's a fabulous-looking horse, is about 16.1 (hands), and he's a tall and powerful colt," Brennan said. "He was a very nice yearling, and a very nice 2-year-old. This time last year, we had him entered in the sale, but he dug a huge hole to China in his stall at the sales grounds and gave himself a foot bruise, so he ended up scratching from the sale.
"Things happen for a reason, and a guy who works for me was friends with Albert Ciuffetelli in New York, and they were looking for a racehorse," Brennan continued. "We stayed in, and Al and his son are very excited, and their whole family is involved. That's what the whole game is about—introducing people like this to the passion of it. We're excited to be partners, and Saffie is still very high on him. We know he'll have a good career."
Exosome more likely for Arkansas Derby try
NBS Stable's Exosome will be nominated to the Wood Memorial, but is more likely to return to the site of his last-out optional-claiming win at Oaklawn Park for the Arkansas Derby, according to trainer Kelsey Danner.
"He will be under consideration (for both races), but I have to discuss it with the owners to see which way they want to go. I think they may be leaning towards Arkansas since he won there," Danner said.
The Candy Ride colt graduated at second asking in October at Keeneland in an off-the-turf event and followed with a closing 5 1/4-length sixth in the Lecomte Stakes (G3) in January at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, where he improved after a tardy start.
Exosome failed to fire in a 1-mile optional-claimer in February over the Turfway Park synthetic, but the addition of blinkers and a return to dirt proved a winning combination last out at Oaklawn Feb. 28 with the talented bay utilizing a more prominent trip to score by a neck over mutuel favorite Top Level.
"It was a tough break in the Lecomte," Danner said. "He's still learning a lot. He doesn't quite help himself get into position, so I really liked at Oaklawn that he put himself up into the race early on, which was nice. Hopefully, he can build off of that. I don't think distance is a limitation with him. He acts like he'll go all day."
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
