Depravity Takes Grade 3 Gary Asher Memorial

Depravity used a strong rally in the stretch to pull off to a 2 length victory in the eighth running of the Grade 3 Gary Asher Memorial Stakes at Kentucky.  The win was the seventh in twelve career starts for Depravity.  It was also the third graded stakes win of his young career.  The son of Red Bullet covered the mile and one sixteenth in 142 and 3/5ths and pushed his career earnings over $500,000.

The race set up nicely for the late running Depravity.  Fusaichi Flyer, One Bak, Bubba Jess, and Wolfing sped out of the gate together to battle for the lead over the first half mile.  Stephany00’s Bubba Jess won that battle and carried a lead to the sixteenth pole before being overtaken by Depravity.  Owner/trainer funster saw Depravity sit in last place for the first half mile, twelve lengths off the lead.  Then he began to make his move and got within six lengths of the lead at the top of the stretch.  Depravity ended up winning the race by two lengths and seemed like he would be capable of running for a lot longer than the mile and one sixteenth of the Gary Asher.

The track at Kentucky was listed as good, but was tough to handle for several of the horses.  The jockey of bargain bred hero Bubba Jess, P McCarthy, said at the top of the stretch he thought he had plenty of horse to coast to a victory.  However, Bubba Jess tired in the stretch and his jockey felt that the track condition was a factor.  Said Res Ipsa Loquitor’s owner/trainer Silverny83, “My horse definitely did not like the surface today.  I will throw this race out and run ‘Res’ on a fast track next time out.”

Despite the questions about the condition of the track, the race and day certainly belonged to Depravity.  Funster was non committal about the plans for Depravity after the race, instead saying he wanted to see how he came out of the race before deciding on the next race.  Whatever the decision, Depravity has set himself up to make a run in this year’s Triple Crown races.