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Major Kentucky Derby Prep Race: Lane's End Stakes
Kentucky Derby prep races just keep on increasing. (AP Images)
Turfway Park will be hosting the lone major prep race for the Kentucky Derby this Saturday, March 22, the 37th year for the Lane’s End Stakes with an impressive $500,000 purse.
The Lane's End will be run over Turfway's synthetic polytrack.
Lane’s End prospect, Turf War has proven himself on synthetics. Turf War will have a different jockey this time around, said trainer Mark Casse. Patrick Husbands will be aboard Turf War in the 1 1/8 mile Lane’s End
"We didn't get the best of trips in the Southwest," said Casse. "He was 24 lengths out of it after a half-mile, and I've already talked it over with Patrick, and that's not going to happen Saturday. He's going to get him into the race and get a position where he doesn't have to make up so much ground."
Casse said Turf War has "trained very well" over the synthetic surface at his winter base, the Ocala Training Center in Florida.
Turf War is not the only prospect who does well on a synthetic track, Halo Najib, who won the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Championship last month and a maiden race winner Medjool are two horses to be watching for this weekend.
Other possible contenders include Adriano, Cannonball, Racecar Rhapsody and Macho Again. Official Lane's End entries will be available later today.
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