The South Florida-based trainer is flying high these days with a trio of 3-year-olds on the road to the Kentucky Derby. His latest prospect is Imawildandcrazyguy, who finished second to Notional in the Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans this past Saturday.

“I thought he ran fantastic,” Kaplan said of his gray gelding who was 2 1/4 lengths behind the winner and a head in front of Zanjero. “He was in very tight quarters in the race, but he closed well when he got clear and he came out of the race very well.”

Kaplan’s other Derby hopefuls are Drums of Thunder, runner-up in the Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park behind top Derby contender Nobiz Like Shobiz, and Storm in May, winner of the Sunshine Millions Dash last month.

While Kaplan’s horses are showing promise, little changed this week in the AP’s Run to the Roses’ Top 10 — Notional moves in at No. 8, Drums of Thunder is No. 9.

The Risen Star produced a scare when Slew’s Tizzy clipped heels and dumped his rider right in front of favorite Circular Quay, who was pulled up sharply at the top of the stretch and had no chance to win although he finished fifth. Imawildandcrazyguy was steered clear of trouble by jockey Fernando Jara.

The result left Kaplan — a former accountant and owner of a private airline — feeling good about Imawildandcrazyguy, who won two of eight starts as a 2-year-old. Next up is the Louisiana Derby on March 10.

“It’s great to have just one top 3-year-old,” Kaplan said before the Holy Bull. “To have three at the same time is unbelievable.”

Drums of Thunder, with four wins in nine career starts, likely will run in the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream on March 3.

Dropping out of the Top 10 were Dreaming of Anna, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner who was third in the Old Hat Stakes, and Stormello.

Summer Doldrums, winner of the Whirlaway; Noble Court, who took Sunday’s San Vicente; and Imawildandcrazyguy move into the “keep an eye on” category.

The opening four-day pool of the Kentucky Derby wager closed Sunday with the mutuel field the 5-2 favorite. Of the 23 individual betting interests, Nobiz Like Shobiz was the 8-1 choice.

Three Derby preps are on tap Saturday, including the Sam F. Davis Stakes, which is expected to feature trainer Todd Pletcher’s Any Given Saturday.

The Derby is May 5.
Source www.thoroughbredtimes.com