Florence, KY (SportsNetwork.com) – Saturday’s $550,000 Spiral Stakes at
Turfway Park has attracted a field of 12 3-year-olds with post positions to be
drawn Wednesday.
The 1 1/8-mile Spiral is an important race on the road to the Kentucky
Derby. Winning the race is worth 50 points for a start in the Run for the
Roses on May 2.
El Camino Real Derby winner Metaboss will be ridden by Alex Solis for a second
straight start. The chestnut colt is trained by Jeff Bonde for a partnership.
Metaboss won the El Camino Real over Golden Gate Fields’ synthetic track which
should set him up for Turfway’s artificial surface. The colt’s bankroll sits
at $177,520 with two wins from five starts. He has 10 points in the Kentucky
Derby points system.
Metaboss notched his maiden victory on Jan. 4 over Santa Anita’s turf course.
He finished third in his debut race at Santa Anita last October and three
weeks later was fourth to Ocho Ocho Ocho in the Juvenile Turf Sprint. At Del
Mar on Nov. 29 he was second in a maiden race on the Jimmy Durante Turf
course.
“In the sprints he was in with tough horses with a lot of speed but when we
stretched him out you could see the difference,” said Bonde. “When you’ve got
a 3-year-old, you’re hoping you can make it to the Kentucky Derby. There are
a lot of steppingstones on the way, and you have to make sure you’re at your
best on that given day.”
Conquest Typhoon, third in the El Camino Real, is also entered for Saturday.
Others in the Spiral Stakes are Another Lemon Drop, Big Family, Dubai Sky,
Firespike, Imperia, Magic of Believing, Royal Son, Task Force Glory,
Watchyourownbobber and Wireless Future. All starters will carry 123 pounds.
