Live Oak Stud homebred World Approval (Northern Afleet)–a half-brother to champion turf horse Miesque's Approval (Miesque's Son), MGSW & MGISP turfer Za Approval (Ghostzapper) and MGSW grass runner Revved Up (Sultry Song)–takes a second crack at graded company in Arlington's GIII American Derby Saturday. Transferred to Mark Casse after making his first two starts on the main track for trainer Christophe Clement, the gray earned his diploma at Gulfstream in his turf debut for the Casse barn Mar. 14. Winner of Tampa's state-bred Sophomore Turf S. Next out Apr. 4, he was third to Divisidero (Kitten's Joy) in the GII American Turf S. at Churchill May 2 and fourth to that rival in Belmont's Pennine Ridge S. last out May 30.
Lothenbach Stables's Nun the Less (Candy Ride {Arg}) finished sixth when last seen in the American Turf. Second in Churchill's Street Sense S. on the dirt Oct. 26, the Chris Block pupil switched to the sod for his sophomore season, finishing third in Gulfstream's Texas Glitter S. Feb. 7 and winning a grassy Keeneland allowance Apr. 12 prior to the American Turf.
Ken McPeek sends out Harold Lerner's King of New York (Street Boss) for his first black-type attempt. Graduating at seventh asking over a sloppy main track at Oaklawn Mar. 14, the bay was a neck second in an allowance over that strip Apr. 8. Third when switched back to the lawn at Churchill May 10, he enters off an allowance win over that turf course June 5.
Skychai Racing, Charles Warner and Sand Dollar Stable's Firespike (Flower Alley) kicked off this term with a victory in the OBS Champion S. on the synthetic at Ocala Training Center Jan. 27 and was fifth in Turfway's Joe Battaglia Memorial S. over the all-weather Feb. 28. Third in the GIII Spiral S. there Mar. 21, the Mike Maker trainee was seventh last time in the American Turf.
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