Vino Rosso colt has lofty goals following Fair Grounds tally

Tuscan Sky scores in a Feb. 17 allowance race at Fair Grounds – Hodges photography

Tuscan Sky, undefeated in two starts following his Feb. 17 allowance win at Fair Grounds, will likely make his next start in a key prep race for the Kentucky Derby (G1).

Owned by Spendthrift Farm, the 3-year-old son of the farm’s stallion Vino Rosso, Tuscan Sky faced just two foes in the 1 1/16-mile race that had four scratches due to the sloppy racing conditions.

Tuscan Sky was the second choice behind the more experienced Nash, who had been second in both the Lecomte S. (G3) and Gun Runner S. earlier in the meet. Nash took the early lead and dictated the pace, getting the half-mile in :47.83. Tuscan Sky made his move for the lead on the final turn, and the duo raced together around the bend and into the stretch. Tuscan Sky took command with a furlong to run and drew away late to win by two lengths in 1:43.74 over the sloppy track.

His time earned him a 95 Beyer Speed Figure, five points better than Sierra Leone’s number for his Risen Star S. (G2) win later on the card.

After the victory, Tuscan Sky’s trainer Todd Pletcher indicated that the March 23 Louisiana Derby (G2) or April 6 Wood Memorial (G2) are both under consideration for the gray/roan colt’s next start.

Bred in Kentucky by Sierra Farm, Tuscan Sky is the second foal out of the stakes-winning mare South Andros. Her first was Private Creed, a son of Jimmy Creed who has amassed $1.3 million in earnings to date, with three stakes victories, topped by the Franklin-Simpson S. (G2) at Kentucky Downs.