Synchrony, Bird of Trey put in final major Southwest moves

Edited Press Release

Synchrony completed major preparations for the $500,000 Southwest S. (G3) on February 15 at Oaklawn Park by working five furlongs in company Saturday morning for trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel.

The Tapit colt, who breezed following the break to renovate the surface, covered the distance over Oaklawn’s fast track in 1:00.80. Stablemate Poseidon’s Way, a four-year-old stakes-placed son of Stormy Atlantic, was credited with the same time.

Saturday’s work was the second, and most ambitious, for Synchrony since his third-place finish in the January 18 Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn.

“I wanted him to do something and he did,” Von Hemel said. “I was pleased.”

The trainer said stakes victor Suddenbreakingnews will probably have his final major move for the Southwest Monday morning.

Also working for the Southwest Saturday morning at Oaklawn was Bird of Trey, who went five furlongs after the break in 1:00.80 for trainer John Servis. The Birdstone colt romped by 7 1/4 lengths in the Pennsylvania Nursery S. to close out his juvenile campaign and returned to be fourth in the Jerome S. (G3) in his January 2 sophomore debut.

The Southwest is the second major local prep for the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) on April 16.

In other Triple Crown news, undefeated Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) champion Nyquist will work five furlongs under regular rider Mario Gutierrez at 10:15 a.m. (PT) Sunday at Santa Anita Park. The move is scheduled to take place before the 1ST race at 11 a.m. as the Uncle Mo colt prepares for his three-year-old debut in the $200,000 San Vicente S. (G2) going seven furlongs on Monday, February 15.

Agent Tom Knust reports that Gutierrez will be at Golden Gate Park next Saturday to ride Frank Conversation in the $200,000 El Camino Real Derby (G3). Hero of the California Derby last out, the Quality Road sophomore worked five furlongs Santa Anita’s fast dirt on Saturday in 1:02.20.

Synchrony (left) and Discreetness (right) photo courtesy of Oaklawn/Coady Photography