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Derby Trail: Three Heating Up, Three Cooling Down

Frosted rebounded to elite form in the $1-million Wood Memorial Stakes on Saturday at Aqueduct. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)

Content Kaplan Excited for Florida Derby, Gulfstream Park Oaks

Trainer Bill Kaplan (above, far left) after winning a graded stakes race at Gulfstream Park with former stable star Musical Romance. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)

By Tom Pedulla, America’s Best Racing

HALLANDAE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Bill Kaplan was as content as the calico cat that lounged ever so peacefully on the desk in his office at Barn 22 at Gulfstream Park.

Royal Son Rolls to Battaglia Runaway

Royal Son coasted to victory in the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes on Satutrday at Turfway Park. (Coady Photography)

Royal Son took it to heavily favored The Great War right from the start of the $125,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes and imposed his will on his more accomplished opponent on the far turn at Turfway Park.

Royal Son powered away from The Great War and opened up a commanding advantage entering the stretch. He coasted to a 5 1/4-length runaway victory under Rodney Prescott for his second win in five starts.

Derby Trail: Three Heating Up, Three Cooling Down

Far Right prevailed on a sloppy track at Oaklawn Park in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes, which was his second consecutive stakes victory. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)

A capsule look at three horses who are heating up on the Triple Crown trail and three horses whose Derby chances are not quite as strong as they were a week ago.

Heating Up

1. Far Right

International Star Shines in Lecomte

International Star dominated the competition on Saturday at Fair Grounds in the $200,000 Lecomte Stakes. (Photo by Amanda Hodges Weir/Hodges Photography)

International Star utilized a powerful late surge to take command in the Grade 3, $200,000 Lecomte Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds and score an important victory in his season debut.

The 3-year-old Fusaichi Pegasus colt banked 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with the win and moved into a tie for first place with Jerome Stakes winner El Kabeir with 21 total points.

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