Review – Grade 1 Corkscrew

In this day and age of instant gratification, Saturday’s running of the Grade 1 $750,000 Corkscrew Derby Lock Prep proved why derbyfever.com is so much different, and so much better, than the rest of the Internet.

Cadet started playing the Sim in 1999. In 14 years, he never started a horse in any of the Triple Crown races.

Now, all these years later, his dream was realized. RECONDITE CADET, the longest shot in the field at 23-1, shocked the field in the Corkscrew and won going away.

So Cadet, what’s it like to win the final Derby Lock Prep with the longest shot in the field?

“It was very exciting,” said the winning trainer. “There was jumping, fist pumping, screaming and an audible, ‘I’m going to the Derby, baby!’ “

“I was keying on Endothermic during the race to judge if my horse was moving up or back.” Cadet said. “At the halfway point when I was moving up I got pretty excited. Once I hit the front I didn’t think the wire was EVER going to come. Hunt Blinding was moving up fast and I thought he might get me.”

Frankster cheered on his chat-room friend.

“Watching on the old viewer, I saw yours sitting just off the pace and he was first to make a move at about the mile mark. I said unless someone runs him down late, Robby has got this! Wooohoooo!”

Cadet said the new viewer increased the drama.

“It made it dramatic as heck because I didn’t know where Bammers was coming from. The fact that Recondite was the longest shot on the board did not set in until later.”

Cadet’s chat-room buddies congratulated him on his expert handling of Recondite Cadet. 

“Expert handling, pffft,” said Cadet. “He got injured and I rushed him as fast as I could to make the race. Recondite took me to the Derby.”

RECONDITE CADET: Away midpack in seventh. Decent trip around the first turn in the three-path. Nice and easy two path down the backstretch. Started moving on entry into turn for home. Swung four wide on turn for home and burst into lead in upper stretch. Ran to glory and a trip to the Bluegrass Derby. Congratulations, Cadet.

HUNTING BLIND: Away slowly from outside No. 12 post. Only had one horse beaten going around the first turn, but lost no ground. Far back down the backstretch. Began to advance in company with Spin It Up. Still had a lot left to do at the head of the lane. Finished very strong to pass everybody but the winner. A tremendous race for Bammie’s Colonel John colt, who is now right on the bubble for making the Derby. With the 64 points for running second in the Corkscrew, Hunting Blind jumps to No. 23 in the division. He has 104 stakes points, which is good for the 16th qualifying position for the Bluegrass Derby right now. Bammie has entered and hopes to make the race. “If I can get him in, yes,” she said. “But it would take a bit of luck for him to make the field. God speed, Hunting Blind!”

BOLTIE: Broke decently in fourth but could not get clear of Tears of Fire around the first turn and was caught a little wide. Didn’t let it bother him as he raced into contention down the backstretch. Advanced into striking position on the turn for home, but got passed by the winner in early stretch. Carried on bravely to get the show money. His 32 stakes points for third place bring him up to No. 30 in the division, probably falling just a little short of making the Bluegrass Derby. Gobidon still must be very proud of this brown son of Sidney’s Candy. He’s a hard-trying colt who gives his best every time. You have to respect a horse like Boltie.

SPIN IT UP: Away slowly in 12th, but saved ground around the first turn, hugging the rail. Conserved energy in the backstretch and then hooked up with the eventual second-place runner, Hunting Blind. Those two began closing together but still had a lot to do at the head of the lane. Hunting Blind swung wide to get up for second, whille Spin It Up tried to go between horses to no avail. Ran a good race to close strongly and make up six lengths from the second call home but did not get rewarded for it. Handshobby knows how close his colt was to making the exacta because he ran in company most the race with the second-place finisher.

TEARS OF FIRE: Away decently in fifth. Kept his position, but was unable to respond when the winner challenged him around the turn for home. Finished in a blanket for the show money, just narrowly behind Boltie and then somehow also behind Spin It Up. Will not be the one to bring the Super Stables their third Bluegrass Derby.

ENDOTHERMIC: Away a step slow but a good trip around the first turn while able to save ground. Conserved energy in the two-path up the backstretch and went by Ghost of Gold entering the turn for home. Took aim at the field and swung three wide for a closing run. Try as he might, could not gain enough ground on the leaders. Nearly caught up to hit the board but finished on the wrong end of a blanket finish for third. But, don’t feel too bad for the Fire and Blood Stables. Given has a Derby runner in THE COOLEST, and also a serious contender for the Middle Jewel in KARAKUZA, who was a hard-luck loser while second with a 110 in the California Derby Lock Prep. While Endothermic might not have attracted much handicapping attention on Derby day, Karakuza sure would have. “He’s the fastest horse not in the Bluegrass Derby,” said Given.

FOOZBALL: As expected, Sledge’s roan son of Any Given Saturday broke alertly, leading the field around the first turn and down the backstretch. Also as expected, he made a bad day for any other horse who had designs on the lead. Dixie’s Taylor Town was the main victim, forced into the bad trip of chasing this leader from second. Foozball kept the lead to the head of the stretch, but was getting tired. All used up, he faded to seventh.

TAYLOR’S TOWN: Away alertly, forced into a chasing position when caught behind the speedy Foozball. Could not win a speed duel vs. that one, and Dixie knew it was not his day when Boltie went by at the halfway point. Sadly, the Breeder’s Bowl Juvenile champion has run two poor races in a row now, and will not be going to Simulated Louisville on the first Saturday in May. Ever the class act, the great Dixie has decided to forego a spot in the Derby starting gate, even though his colt would qualify easily as No. 3 in the division. So, whoever makes the Derby in the 20th and final position, you have Dixie to thank. A gracious act of sportmanship by the greatest Sim trainer who ever lived.

HAACK’S EXCHANGE: The first seven finishers in the Corkscrew all earned 100-plus speed figures, and there was a blanket finish for third place. Of course, the trainers of the winner and second-place finishers feel great about their horses. And, the trainers of those who finished in the blanket for the show money can take some solace that their horse came so close to making the money and at least earned a good number. But, the Corkscrew field is divided into about half and the ones who ran poor races began with Taylor’s Town. Haack’s Exchange was slightly worse, showing no interest in either nine furlongs or Grade 1 competition. But, let’s not feel too sorry for Haack. He’s got a strong entry for the Bluegrass Derby in EL QUERREQUERRE, winner of the Wooden Indian, and HAACK’S DUKE, winner of the Sand Castle Derby. 

ELITE SENSE: Better days ahead for Fleetwood’s brown son of Street Sense, who was away slowly and never made a move. It’s a horse like this one that shows how tough the Sim really can be. He ran a great, big 108 three back going nine furlongs in a non-graded race, but so far, is not able to make the same kind of run in graded stakes. He still has a lot of racing ahead of him.

LOOKING FOR SUMMER: Away alertly to press the pace from the No. 10 post. Raced third in the early stages, pressing Foozball and Taylor’s Town. The front end was no place to be in the Corkscrew. All of the three grays who were in front early were not there late. Back to the drawing board for Punter.

INCIDENT: Winning form in lesser races failed to translate on the big day. Dundey’s colt broke last and never threatened. The trainer still has a spot in the Derby starting gate with LEFT SIDE STRONG.

GHOST OF GOLD: Once again, proof that the Sim is a tough, old game. Ghost of Gold ran his second clunker in a row for Bobangod, who entered the Derby preps with a hot horse and left with a reclamation effort. Only beat one horse in two Derby Locks.

LONHRO’S IMPACT: Boy, you gotta feel for OKDavid, who came into the Corkscrew with a horse on a five-race winning streak and left with a disaster. Something went terribly wrong with Lonhro’s Impact, who nobody could have picked to run dead last. Now, OKDavid has a tough decision to make. Lonhro’s Impact remains No. 20 in the division and might be able to make the Derby. Also, the horse might be injured. Geez, tough break here.