Chasing The Derby: Gotham shines spotlight on Hansen// I'll Have Another to work in front of crowd// Small field in Battaglia// Fly Lexis Fly update needed

The sheer number of articles and blog posts about Champion 2-year-old Hansen over the past two days serves as a reminder of how powerful the stage of New York City can be. Never mind the Gotham Stakes is just a Grade 3 Kentucky Derby prep race in early March, with aside from Hansen, a suspect cast; people pay attention. Hansen took to the Belmont training track Thursday. He had a strong gallop for 1 1/8 miles and some gate schooling. Side Road is somewhat of an alternate entry for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, who had to withhold Consortium from the Gotham due to an injury. He knows it’s a tough spot but says the son of Street Cry is improving. For PPs, articles, picks, and videos you can view the Gotham race page here// I’ll Have Another, surprise winner of the Robert Lewis (G2) and 5^th on the CTD Top 5, will have an official 6-furlong workout in front of the afternoon racing crowd at Santa Anita Saturday. Trainer Doug O’Neill wants the colt to experience the sights and sounds of a big live audience, something that he’ll surely have to face for the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and Kentucky Derby (G1)// Entries were drawn for the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park. The race serves as a prep for the Spiral Stakes (G3), which Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom captured last year. Grade 2 winner State of Play will be making his synthetic debut after two previous bad efforts in the Sam Davis (G3) on dirt and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). He’ll ship in to face 5 rivals including local Mr. Prankster, winner of two previous stakes at Turfway// A nice feature video from a few days ago by TVG on Fly Lexis Fly below. Neil Drysdale is the new trainer of the Peruvian import who has already won at the Derby and Belmont distances as a 2-year-old. The plan is to run in just one Derby prep, but I’m not sure how likely that is seeing as the colt has yet to record an official workout// Many fans are against the current qualification system for gaining entry in the Kentucky Derby. A writer by the name of Indulto gives a lengthy review and alternative to the graded stakes earnings requirement for Horseracing Insider. The piece below is only part one and actually doesn’t get into his recommendation just yet...

Gotham Stakes (G3)

Race page with PPs, picks, preview articles and more here

John Battaglia Memorial Stakes

Preview articles: TTimes / DRF / Bloodhorse

Picks: Commish’s Picks (The Downey Profile)

Articles

NYRA Notes 3/1 (NYRA)

Big H hits the Big Apple (Hansen Blog via Courier Journal)

Hansen’s 12 Gotham challengers have much to prove (DRF)

Something to prove in the Gotham (The Derby Post)

Hansen attracts a crowd in Gotham (ESPN Blog)

In The Gate 3/1 [Gotham Preview] (ESPN Podcast)