Odysseus to run once more before Derby
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from Daily Racing Form:
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Tom Albertrani has confirmed that the Tampa Bay Derby winner, Odysseus, will have one final prep before the Kentucky Derby, with the choices remaining either the Blue Grass or Arkansas Derby.
"If all is well he'll get to run one more time before the Derby, although at the moment we still haven't made a definite decision where it will be," Albertrani said on Tuesday. "We're probably going to work him either Thursday or Friday, see how he is, and then make a choice between the Blue Grass or Arkansas Derby. We've still got another two weeks before we really have to decide. He'll ship on the 5th no matter where he goes, although I'd say by this time next week we should know which direction we're heading."
Odysseus fought back from seemingly certain defeat at the quarter pole to win the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby by a nose over Schoolyard Dreams. The $180,000 in graded earnings all but assured Odysseus a spot in the Kentucky Derby, leaving Albertrani the decision of whether to give him another race or train him the seven weeks up to the Derby.
One factor Albertrani must consider when it comes to Odysseus's final Derby prep would be that the Blue Grass is run over a synthetic surface at Keeneland, while the Arkansas Derby is decided over dirt at Oaklawn Park. Odysseus has never started over a synthetic racetrack.
"I'm not that concerned about him running over the synthetic, and the cooler climate in Kentucky might benefit him more," said Albertrani. "The good thing is that we're not in a situation where we need to win. It's just a matter of getting a little added experience and another race into him, closer than seven weeks."
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Tom Albertrani has confirmed that the Tampa Bay Derby winner, Odysseus, will have one final prep before the Kentucky Derby, with the choices remaining either the Blue Grass or Arkansas Derby.
"If all is well he'll get to run one more time before the Derby, although at the moment we still haven't made a definite decision where it will be," Albertrani said on Tuesday. "We're probably going to work him either Thursday or Friday, see how he is, and then make a choice between the Blue Grass or Arkansas Derby. We've still got another two weeks before we really have to decide. He'll ship on the 5th no matter where he goes, although I'd say by this time next week we should know which direction we're heading."
Odysseus fought back from seemingly certain defeat at the quarter pole to win the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby by a nose over Schoolyard Dreams. The $180,000 in graded earnings all but assured Odysseus a spot in the Kentucky Derby, leaving Albertrani the decision of whether to give him another race or train him the seven weeks up to the Derby.
One factor Albertrani must consider when it comes to Odysseus's final Derby prep would be that the Blue Grass is run over a synthetic surface at Keeneland, while the Arkansas Derby is decided over dirt at Oaklawn Park. Odysseus has never started over a synthetic racetrack.
"I'm not that concerned about him running over the synthetic, and the cooler climate in Kentucky might benefit him more," said Albertrani. "The good thing is that we're not in a situation where we need to win. It's just a matter of getting a little added experience and another race into him, closer than seven weeks."
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