Undefeated Gemologist turned in his final serious work for Saturday, Apr. 7′s Grade 1, $1 million Resorts World Casino New York City Wood Memorial on Sunday, Apr. 1 at Palm Meadows training center, breezing five furlongs in 1:00.44. Exercise rider Hector Ramos was aboard for the move, the fastest of six workouts at the distance.
“I was really, really pleased,” said Todd Pletcher, who trains the homebred son of Tiznow for WinStar Farm, by telephone. “He was going well, in hand, throughout.”
Winner of all three of his 2011 starts, including the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs on Nov. 26, Gemologist returned to the races on Mar. 16 at Gulfstream Park, going wire-to-wire in posting a seven-length allowance victory over Grade 1 Three Chimneys Hopeful Stakes winner Currency Swap. His time for the mile was 1:35.95, good for a 95 Beyer Speed Figure.
“We came in with high hopes this winter, as he was undefeated as a 2- year-old with two wins at Churchill Downs,” said Pletcher. “Because his return was delayed, he might have been a little under the radar for some, but certainly not for us. From a conditioning standpoint, I thought he got exactly what he needed [out of the comeback race]. Hopefully, he continues moving forwardly.”
Pletcher said Gemologist was scheduled to be flown from Florida to New York on Wednesday for the 1 1/8-mile Wood, the centerpiece of Saturday’s 11-race card at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Also turning in his final preparations for the Wood this morning was Magnolia Racing Stable and Hidden Brook Farm’s Street Life. Under Junior Alvarado, the Street Sense colt breezed a half-mile in 48.10 over Belmont Park’s training track-the second-fastest of 43 at the distance- and galloped out in 1:00.71.
“He did it easy, in hand, no problem,” said Cherie DeVaux, assistant to trainer Chad Brown. “He breezes faster than he runs; he’s got it figured out. He knows what he’s doing. And, he came back well.”
Unraced at two, Street Life finished eighth in his debut at Gulfstream Park in January before joining Brown’s New York string. He then made a pair of starts around two turns on the inner track, coming from far back to break his maiden on Feb. 11 and closing from midpack to take the Broad Brush overnight stakes on Mar. 17. Magnolia Racing Stable bought into the colt following his maiden win.
Barry Schwartz’s The Lumber Guy, who will be making his third career start in the Wood Memorial, turned in a 1:01.83 five-furlong breeze on Sunday over Belmont’s training track.
“He went in 1:01 and change and did most of it the last three-eighths of a mile, and the gallop out was good,” said trainer Michael Hushion. “He went out in 1:16. I thought it was fine. I’m happy with it. I think we’re going to give [the Wood] a try.”
The Lumber Guy is unbeaten and untested so far in his brief career, havingdebuteda91/4-lengthwinner at Aqueduct on Jan. 28 and taking Laurel Park’s Miracle Wood Stakes by 4 1/4 lengths on Feb. 25. The Wood Memorial will be his first start beyond seven furlongs, but Hushion is willing to take a shot based off what he has seen from his protégé.
