Nycon probable for G3 Gazelle

• Nycon probable for G3 Gazelle
• Right to Party likely for G2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino
• Creole Chrome possible for G2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino

Icon Racing Stable’s Nycon is probable for the Grade 3, $200,000 Gazelle, a nine-furlong test for sophomore fillies, on April 4 at Aqueduct Racetrack. The race awards 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Oaks points respectively to the top-five finishers.

The Gazelle is part of a stacked program headlined by the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino, a nine-furlong 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Derby qualifier for sophomores. Also featured on the six-stakes card are the Grade 2, $300,000 Carter presented by NYRA Bets, the Grade 3, $150,000 Distaff, the Listed $150,000 Excelsior and the Listed $150,000 Plenty of Grace to kick off turf stakes action for the year in New York.

Trained by Whit Beckman, the Nyquist dark bay was a closing 3 3/4-length second last out to Paradise in the one-turn mile Listed Busher on February 28 here. Nycon picked up 18.75 Oaks qualifying points in defeat and will look to add to her total in the Gazelle.

“She’s likely to run there,” Beckman said. “She was based at Turfway Park, and I moved her down to train at Keeneland. I’m going to work her here in a couple of days.”

Nycon was previously a neck second in the one-mile Cash Run on January 1 at Gulfstream Park. Her last three efforts have been at that distance, including a 4 3/4-length second-out graduation in November at Churchill Downs.

Nycon has worked back once since the Busher, covering a half-mile in 49.20 seconds last Saturday over the Turfway Park synthetic.

“She’s been training good, she looks great,” said Beckman.

Beckman nominated both Hulkamania and Ocelli to the Wood Memorial.

“Hulkamania will probably not run there, Ocelli is a maybe,” Beckman said. “The first horse [Hulkamania], I’d probably wheel him back in a one-turn race, Ocelli may make the trip up.”

Ashley Durr, Anthony Tate and Front Page Equestrian’s Ocelli was sixth last out in the one-turn nine-furlong Virginia Derby on March 14 at Colonial Downs. The Connect bay came from off-the-pace to be within a half-length of the lead at the stretch call, but had his head cocked toward the grandstand down the lane and flattened out for a 6 3/4-length defeat to Incredibolt.

“I think he put himself in a good spot. Every time I run this horse, we are kind of figuring something else out about him. He got keener down the backside than he had been in his previous races,” Beckman said. “He kind of moved wide around the turn, and he was wanting to lean in down the lane, which was a little bit of a head scratcher. I know he has an immense amount of talent. We just need to hone some things in. If he trains well, breezes well, we will think about bringing him up for the Wood.”

Ocelli has made two Derby trail appearances, also finishing sixth in the 1 1/16-mile Listed Sam F. Davis on February 7 at Tampa Bay Downs. He is still a maiden in five starts and would almost certainly need at least a top-two finish to make the starting gate for the Run for the Roses.

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Right to Party likely for G2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino

Chester Broman, Sr.’s Right to Party will look to punch his ticket for the Kentucky Derby in the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino, on April 4 at Aqueduct Racetrack. The nine-furlong route for sophomores offers 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-five finishers.

Trained by Kenny McPeek and campaigned under the watchful eye of Belmont Park-based assistant Jimmy Jerkens, Right to Party has finished third behind the victorious and likely returning rival Iron Honor in 2-of-3 career starts at the Big A, including on debut in December and last out in the Grade 3 Gotham on February 28.

McPeek said the Wood Memorial is a logical spot for the improving sophomore, who was squeezed at the break of the Gotham and closed from last-of-8 to earn show honors and 15 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

“I think we're inclined to, and Jimmy has him marked down to go. I did the nom today, but Jimmy and I need to discuss it a little further,” McPeek said. “He's a horse that just keeps coming and coming and I think he's going to improve as the year goes along. I think the added distance will suit him, but he might need a bit of a pace setup.”

The Kentucky-bred son of Constitution, who was purchased for $325,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, graduated at second asking here with a last-to-first charge traveling a one-turn mile.

“He's a big, beautiful horse. He's got a big, long stride on him - the more distance the better,” said McPeek, who indicated Christopher Elliott would retain the mount.

Right to Party [3-1-0-2, $90,200] is out of the New York-bred Emcee mare Havin’ a Party. His second dam is 2002 Grade 3 Tempted winner Chimichurri, who finished second to House Party in the following year’s Grade 1 Prioress.

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Creole Chrome possible for G2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino

Trainer Joe Sharp has yet to pin down a next start for Three Diamonds Farm’s stakes-winner Creole Chrome, but said Saturday that the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino on April 4 at Aqueduct Racetrack is a possible target. The nine-furlong route for sophomores offers 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-five finishers.

The Louisiana-bred son of Volatile has been based at Fair Grounds Race Course throughout this winter, but shipped to Keeneland on Monday. This morning, he worked a solo half-mile in 47.80 seconds, his second workout since winning the Louisiana Stallion of the Year Star Guitar on February 28 at Fair Grounds.

“It was so good,” Sharp said of the work. “He went 47 and four by himself, really within himself, and he seemed to do it very effortlessly. Having just shipped up there on Monday, it was good to see him get acclimated as quick as he did and continue to mature like we’re hoping he would.”

Creole Chrome was entered in the one-mile Grade 3 Gotham here on February 28, but scratched in favor of the one-mile and 70-yard Star Guitar, where he romped by 6 3/4 lengths. The colt has made all four starts against state-breds at Fair Grounds, including an open-lengths debut graduation in November and a head allowance victory in January, both at six furlongs.

Creole Chrome is also nominated to a pair of upcoming stakes at Keeneland in the seven-furlong Listed Lafayette on April 3 and the nine-furlong Grade 1 Blue Grass on April 4.

“We are completely open to all possibilities,” Sharp said. “I don’t know any more today than I did last week, but the Wood is on the consideration list. I always feel like being home puts you at an advantage, but we’ll see what happens.”

Out of 2009 Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks-winner Funny Moon, Creole Chrome was bred by Gulf Haven Farms and was purchased for $55,000 at the Texas Thoroughbred Association Yearling Sale. He has banked $139,150 through a 4-3-0-1 record.