Undefeated STRONG CONTENDER (Maria’s Mon) worked five furlongs in :59 4/5
over a fast track at Gulfstream Park on Wednesday. The John Ward Jr.-trained colt is
expected to make his stakes debut in the $500,000 Lane’s End S. (G2) at Turfway
Park on March 25.
“He worked very well,” Ward said. “If he comes out of it in good shape we’ll
van him up to Kentucky a week from today (March 22). He’s never flown before, so
I don’t want to subject him to that scenario just yet.”
Strong Contender, a well-named $800,000 two-year-old purchase, broke his
maiden by 3 3/4 lengths in his debut at Arlington Park last August. In his
sophomore debut, the chestnut dueled for the early lead before drawing off to a
4 3/4-length victory in a one-mile allowance at Gulfstream Park on February 22.