'TDN Rising Star' Sand Devil (Violence) had his first work back since a runner-up effort in the GIII Gotham Stakes Mar. 1, covering a half-mile in 49 seconds flat in company on Saturday over the Belmont Park dirt training track.
Trained by Linda Rice, Sand Devil is targeting the nine-furlong GII Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack Apr. 5–a 100-50-25-15-10 qualifier for the GI Kentucky Derby.
“He went nice, went out five-eighths in 1:01 and 2, galloped out three-quarters in 13 and 3–we were very happy,” Rice said of the work. “He stayed with the company for about a half-mile and then went on by himself. We are headed towards the Wood Memorial, and things are going the right way.”
The chestnut was handed his first career defeat by Flood Zone (Frosted) in the one-turn mile Gotham, where he stumbled at the break under regular pilot Jose Lezcano and rushed up to engage in a three-way battle for the lead with Flood Zone and Normandy Coast (Omaha Beach). Sand Devil stuck his head in front at the three-quarters call before being collared by Flood Zone heading into the stretch, and was defeated by 3 1/4 lengths. Sand Devil was awarded 25 Kentucky Derby qualifying points for the effort.
“We felt like things didn't unfold perfectly for him, but there's no shame in being second in the Gotham,” Rice said. “He stumbled at the break and then rushed up and was head-and-head for the lead. Nothing went perfectly, but we still got 25 points.”
Sand Devil entered the Gotham undefeated in three starts against state-breds at the Big A, beginning with a debut graduation Dec. 8. He then romped by 12 1/2-lengths in a one-turn mile optional claimer on Jan. 2, which netted him a 'TDN Rising Star' for the effort. Sand Devil aced his first stakes test in the Damon Runyon Feb. 8.
NY-bred SAND DEVIL is now 2-for-2 after an impressive win in Race 2 with Jose Lezcano aboard for trainer @LindaRiceRacing. Keep an eye on this one! pic.twitter.com/CIAIF99vSJ
— NYRA (🗽) (@TheNYRA) January 2, 2025
The colt's trainer said she is cautiously optimistic Sand Devil will relish a stretch-out to two turns in the Wood Memorial.
“You have to wait and see. We're hopeful it will suit him and that the easier fractions might be helpful, but you never know until you send them out there,” Rice said.
Statesman Politickin' To Get On Wood Ballot
West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing and CJ Stables's Statesman (Constitution) is under strong consideration for the Wood Memorial.
Trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, the bay won his last two starts traveling one mile and 40 yards at Tampa Bay Downs, graduating at fourth asking Jan. 17 and defeating optional claiming company Feb. 26.
Statesman scores at Tampa | SV Photography
“Well, Shug is obviously the leader of the band, but I know he is very, very intrigued by the Wood Memorial,” said Terry Finley, CEO of co-owner West Point Thoroughbreds. “We talk quite a bit and he thinks that surface up there is going to fit this horse very well. Shug didn't expect this, he sent him to Tampa for kind of a confidence boost and he ran really well, then came right back and put a good second effort in and ran a big number, so who knows?”
Finley believes Statesman deserves a shot in the Wood off a career-best 78 Beyer.
“Of course he has to step his game up and will have to beat better horses in the Wood than he did at Tampa, but I think he's in the zone,” said Finley. “He is a horse who seems to be getting better and better, and has a really, really good turn of foot.”
The co-owner credits McGaughey's patient approach for allowing Statesman to develop. He was third in his off-the-turf one-mile debut in early August at Saratoga Race Course before finishing a well-beaten seventh over the grass upstate later that month. He was fourth going one mile at Gulfstream Park in November.
STATESMAN ($17.40) and @JOCKEYSMARIN kicked it into overdrive to rally and nail Majorca on the line in the 8th at @TampaBayDownsFL. Shug McGaughey trains the son of Constitution (@WinStarFarm).
Play the lucky last: https://t.co/3V0lqf7sit pic.twitter.com/H3sUSS8g9B
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) January 17, 2025
“He is a horse that wouldn't have benefitted from being rushed. We ran him last year in his first start in an off-the-turf race, and he finished a decent third,” he said. “We thought he would be a work in progress and a project-type horse. Then all of a sudden that project turned favorable right at the beginning of the year. They are not all cut out to win at Saratoga as 2-year-olds.”
Statesman worked a half-mile for McGaughey in 49.93 seconds on Sunday at Gulfstream Park.
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