Atreides breezes, East Hall likely for Indiana Derby

Wolfson had been leaning toward running Atreides in the

Grade 2, $400,000 Kelso going a one-turn mile against older horses at

Belmont Park on September 27, but his inclination now is to run the Kentucky-bred

colt in the 1 1/16-mile Indiana Derby.

"It's against three-year-olds instead of older horses and it's

a faster track. The Belmont track is a little deep," Wolfson explained.

The Indiana Derby will be run around two turns, which would

be a new experience for the long-striding Atreides.

"I don't know (if he'll be as effective around two turns),

but he acts like it," Wolfson stated.

Atreides' half-sister, Grade 1 victress Dreaming of Julia, captured the 1

1/8-mile Gulfstream Park Oaks around two turns by 21 3/4 lengths in 2013.

In other Indiana Derby news, trainer Bill Kaplan reported Wednesday morning

that his Ohio Derby winner, East Hall, is likely to run next in that race.

The three-year-old son of Graeme Hall, who had competed against

top sophomores in the Florida Derby and Fountain of

Youth during Gulfstream's Championship Meet earlier this year, broke through with a

late-charging triumph in the Ohio Derby at Thistledown on July 12.

East

Hall ran back in the September 6 Super Derby at

Louisiana Downs, finishing

sixth after being steadied in traffic at the top of the stretch.

"He had a very tough trip in the Super Derby," Kaplan said. "He's nominated

for the Indiana Derby, and he'll probably run there."

Although East Hall wasn't able to duplicate his Ohio Derby

win at Louisiana Downs, Kaplan had an otherwise perfect afternoon with a pair of

two-year-olds. He saddled Naval Command for a quarter-length triumph in the Happy Ticket

Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the turf and My Point Exactly for a neck victory in the

Sunday Silence at 1 1/16 miles on the green.

Naval Command, a daughter of Midshipman who had previously

won two of three starts on dirt at Gulfstream, is being pointed to the

Grade 1, $400,000 Alcibiades over the new dirt course at

Keeneland on October 3.

"Naval Command has awesome speed and awesome talent. The

only thing she needs to learn is to relax, but she is getting better," Kaplan

said. "That's why we brought her to Louisiana -- to see if we could get two

turns with her and get her off the lead for part of it anyway and to have her

finish. She did it; she accomplished that. We decided if she won the Louisiana

race that we'd give her a shot in the Alcibiades."

My Point Exactly is staying close to home and is being

pointed to Gulfstream's $75,000 Armed Forces Stakes on turf October 4.

Unbeaten Ekati's Phaeton, who has been extremely impressive while

launching her career with a pair of commanding victories over Gulfstream's main

track, is being pointed to the $75,000 Our Dear Peggy for two-year-old fillies on

turf October 4.

"I knew she was talented from the very beginning," Kaplan

said. "She has a world of talent combined with a very good mind.

Another Kaplan-trained juvenile, Moment of Delight, is

scheduled to run in the $350,000 My Dear Girl, the final leg of the Florida Sire

Stakes (FSS) at Gulfstream on October 4. The daughter of A.P. Warrior, who broke her

maiden on August 16 by 4 1/2 lengths, finish a nose second in the

FSS Susan's Girl division on September 6.

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com