3-Year-Olds Strut Their Stuff We’re still four months away from the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, but excitement already was ramping up for those races at Gulfstream Park last week. Four stakes were run for 3-year-olds there last week, and a stakes-quality allowance Jan. 3 featured an exciting finish between Commissioner and Top Billing, two legitimate Derby contenders. So, this roundup will focus on those stakes for 3-year-olds and the aforementioned allowance. Some thoughts: ◗ Jan. 1, Gulfstream Park Derby: The race proved a thriller, with General a Rod, under Joel Rosario, just edging pacesetter Wildcat Red in a duel that lasted the length of the stretch. The race was quick, too, with the winner completing a mile in 1:35.84, a performance that earned him and the runner-up 92 Beyer Speed Figures. Still, the feeling here is that this race was not stellar. The better 3-year-olds, except those in need of experience, largely bypass stakes at this time of year, and that was evident in the makeup of the Gulfstream Park Derby. The winner, General a Rod, also enjoyed a perfect stalking trip behind two horses and never had a fleck of dirt kicked in his face in enjoying a three-wide trip. ◗ Jan. 3, first-level allowance: This contest was no less thrilling than the Gulfstream Park Derby, with Commissioner edging Top Billing shortly before the wire, with the two also exchanging bumps in the stretch. Commissioner initiated the bulk of the contact, and one could make a good case that he should have been disqualified for interference. That aside, it was a very game effort from the horse, who is bred for the classic distances, being by A.P. Indy out of a Touch Gold mare. He came under an early drive and seemed to be one-paced, but once he got in a dogfight with another rival, he responded to win in a photo, just as he did in his maiden victory at Saratoga over the summer. As for Top Billing, he ran well in defeat, and to these eyes, should have been elevated to first by the stewards. But having said that, his trip wasn’t as bad as some observers made it out to be. Closing from last, he was able to save ground and found a seam when he needed to. He’s a good horse, but it is not as if he was going to win by five lengths had the bumping not occurred. The top two finishers ran 91 Beyers. ◗ Jan. 4, Old Hat: Trainer Todd Pletcher ran one-two in this disappointingly short field of 3-year-old fillies, with Sweet Whiskey proving clearly best after breaking slowly from the rail and rolling to a 2 3/4-length victory over stablemate Co Cola. This marked the fourth consecutive sprint for Sweet Whiskey, a daughter of Old Fashioned whose running style seems to suggest she will prove most effective if kept in one-turn races. ◗ Jan. 4, Spectacular Bid: In one of the few notable races that Pletcher didn’t win, Just Call Kenny pulled off an upset at almost 20-1 with a last-to-first rally in the Spectacular Bid. Like Sweet Whiskey, he won from the rail and despite a tardy beginning. Though he finished powerfully, this handicapper’s inclination would be to play against him if he is stretched out in distance to a route. Deep-closing sprinters are regularly overbet when placed in two-turn races, and often the slower pace of those races negates the effectiveness of their rallies. His pedigree is mixed regarding his distance potential, as a son a sprint sire Jump Start but with his dam having a stamina influence, being by Green Dancer. He strikes me as a 2014 version of graded stakes winner Forty Tales – a late-running, talented horse with the potential to do well up to a one-turn mile. ◗ Jan. 5, Ginger Brew: The winner, Candy Kitty, is a cut below the very best in the country, but few have her versatility. One start after taking the Wait A While in a race taken off the grass and moved to a sloppy main track, she won the Ginger Brew on turf, shaking clear of stretch traffic to get up late. As well as Candy Kitty performed, runner-up Miss Besilu likely ran the better race of the two, losing ground from her outside post while the winner was able to save ground and stay close to slow fractions due to her favorable inside draw.