14 try for spot in THE Derby in Grade 1 Florida Derby

Florida Derby — Derby Lock Prep

Florida (FL)

Saturday, March 29, 2014 — 3:00:00 PM EST | Race ID : 1233190

Grade I / Group 1 – Purse : $1,000,000

Restricted to 3 Year Olds

9 Furlongs | ~1800 Meters | One Mile and and One Eighth    Fast Dirt

A full field of 14,  including a lone filly,  will tangle in the Grade 1 Florida Derby – Derby Lock Prep, seeking to guarantee a spot in the Bluegrass Derby the first Saturday in May.  To be contested at 9 furlongs over the fast dirt track (thanks to the splendid sunshine we’ll enjoy all weekend),  the winner will nail down the lion’s share of the $1 million purse.  As one of the big prep races for THE Derby, the owners will be looking for a big effort from their trainees here to move forward and dream about that first Saturday in May winner’s circle.  Let’s take a look at the entries for today’s main  event at Gulfstream Park,  just north of Miami in Hallandale, Florida.

NICAWAMPUS LEROY         PP  1    6/1             dundey

Chestnut Sea The Stars colt out of the allowance winning mare Deep Dark Night was a disappointing 9th last out in the Grade 3 Gary Asher up in New York.  Prior to that was a front running, runaway win in the Last Appeal listed stakes at 9.5 furlongs, posting a very nice 105 SP#.  Started the year with a 2nd in a NW4 allowance at 8.25 panels, and closed out his freshman campaign with a 2nd in the Minnesota Testbarn Juvenile listed stakes at 8.5 furlongs.  A certain pace factor in first Grade 1 try and first run on this oval for trainer dundey; oddsmaker has him as co-favorite at 6/1.

TANGO LIGHTS             PP  2    17/1          ninerdust

Grade 1 winning light grey runner by Medaglia D’Oro out of the allowance winning mare Crazy Eight, comes off a 7th place finish in the Grade 3 Good Cow at a mile over this surface in his 2014 debut.  Finished 2013 with a perplexing last place run in the Grade 1 Breeder’s Bowl Juvenile.  Prior to that, won the Grade 1 Sparkling Wine at a mile up in New York.  Also has a Grade 2 win in his resume at 6.5 panels in the Upper New York Special in August, after a close 2nd in the Grade 2 Hoserhead Juvenile in Canada.  Owner ninerdust is hoping today’s extra distance and prior track experience will help his stretch runner regain top form and contend in the lane.

RARAKINACHI             PP  3    9/1             deyoto2

This Sea The Stars bay colt out of the Grade 1 winning, million dollar earning mare Taylor’s Story, has found his seconditis cure in switching to dirt racing.  After 5 straight 2nd place runs on the weeds, including the Grade 1 St Cloud and Grade 3 Founders stakes,  trainer deyoto2 switched his charge to the dirt for his 2014 debut.  The tactic worked great with a wire to wire win in the Franco Invasion listed stakes at 9.5 furlongs, earning a solid 103 SP#.  He followed that up and displayed his versatility winning again, this time from off the pace in The Take It Apart listed stakes at today’s 9 panel distance with a 100 SP#.  Solid contender here in first try over this track.

UNCLE BOBBY             PP  4    6/1              hillndale

Hussonet bay out of the allowance winning mare Sea The Banshee comes off a very impressive win in the Magical Merlin listed stakes over this race course at 8.5 furlongs, earning a 108 SP#.  Prior was a win in 2014 season opener in a NW3 allowance at 8.5 panels with a 103 SP#.  Closed out his 2013 year with a close 2nd in the Blazing Saddles Breeders Showdown listed stakes, also at 8.5 furlongs.  Has never been worse than 2nd in 8 lifetime starts.  Makes first start in a graded stakes today;  co-favorite from the hillndale barn has a big shot off experience from last out win here.

DERBYFEVERDOTCOM         PP  5      9/1              winningday

SIM namesake bay Bernadini filly takes on the boys after huge, late closing win in the Grade 1 Equinics – Young Guns at today’s distance in her initial 2014 start.  She posted a impressive 104 SP# that day against her own sex.  Prior was also a late closing win in the Minnesota Testbarn Miss Juvenile listed stakes at 8.5 panels in her 2013 finale.  Was a close 7th in the Grade 1 Breeder’s Bowl Juvenile Filly, after a closing 2nd in the Grade 1 Dell Computer Debutante at 7 furlongs.  Also has victories in the Grade 3 Arizona Shoot-Out and the Grade 2 Stoker.  Trainer winningday understandably gives her a shot off last out triumph – will be flying late down the lane.

OUTBACK CURIUM         PP  6    12/1             outback5

Bay Awesome Again colt from the outback5 barn comes into this after a 6th place finish in the Grade 1 Equinics – Old Timers at 9.5 furlongs in first start of 2014.  Finished off his freshman season with a 2nd in the Grade 2 Club Stakes at 8.5 panels,  earning a nice 102 SP# in his first graded stakes try.  Won the Rhibus Juvenile listed stakes,  also at 8.5 furlongs with a strong late rally back in October.  Stretch runner will be flying late in the lane, any improvement off his Equinics effort could put him in the mix at the finish.

TROOP SHACK             PP  7    8/1             dogfarm

Shackleford bay colt out of the graded placed and stakes winning mare Kate’s Point began his 2014 campaign with a stalking win in the Grade 2 Long Beach Island Juvenile at 8.5 furlongs,  posting a nice 101 SP# and increasing his current win streak to three.  Ended 2013 displaying his versatility with a win on the grass in the Craft Shuffling Turf Juvenile listed stakes at 7.5 panels.  Was a close 4th in the Midsoil in first graded attempt in July, then a good 3rd in the Grade 3 M.L. Trophy in September, both at 6 panels.  Should be close to the pace here, any improvement off last gives him a big shot here for trainer dogfarm.

SMILING SEA             PP  8    8/1             asoiaf

Royally bred chestnut colt by Giant’s Causeway out of the Grade 1 winning,  million dollar earning mare Alayaya has never been worse than second in eight career starts.  Was a late closing 2nd in the Grade 2 Ocean City Juvenile, scoring a solid 105 SP# at today’s distance.  Won the Killerzandglitterz listed stakes at 9.5 furlongs, posting a 102 SP# in his 2014 opener.  Closed out the 2013 racing year with an easy NW3 allowance victory at 8.5 panels.  Has won 4 of 5 runs on fast dirt which he gets today, stretch contender for owner asoiaf.

MAMERTO DE ORO         PP  9    13/1             zampateste

Trainer zampateste sends out this bay colt by Shamardal out of the allowance winning mare Fabulosa.  Started his career on the weeds with some success in first four starts, but has won 3 straight since switch to the dirt.  Last out was a wire to wire win in a hot race allowance tuneup.  Ended 2013 with first dirt win in a NW4 allowance at a mile,  with a nice 95 SP#.  His 2014 debut was a stretch rallying win in the Taylor Made R1 listed stakes, posting a 101 SP#.  Versatile runner, if craftily ridden,   may be a longshot contender.

STRIKE THE BUZZER         PP  10     20/1            plainfield

Light grey colt from Smart Strike out of Buzzdrinksthebeers had his 3 race winning streak snapped in initial sophomore try in the Grade 3 The Scam at today’s distance.  Capped off 2013 with a win in the Grade 3 Pleasure Stakes at 8.5 furlongs with a 96 SP#.  Another who started his career on the turf and has found success racing on dirt.  Owner plainfield will be looking for improvement off his 2014 debut, will need it to compete with the contenders in here.

POLITICAL HUMOR         PP  11    11/1             blankpoin7

Distorted Humor bay colt out of Federal Law was a good 3rd in 2014 opener,  the Grade 3 Good Cow at a mile,  besting today’s opponent Tango Lights.  May have bounced in 2013 finale, a poor 12th in the Grade 1 Movieland Futurity.  Prior to that were 3 sparkling 2nd place efforts – in the Grade 1 Breeders Bowl Juvenile earning a 100 SP#; the Grade 1 Sparkling Wine and the Grade 2 Upper New York Special, both of which were won by Tango Lights.  Trainer blankpoin7 will be looking for a move forward off season opener by his charge, can be contender on best effort.

UNITED SLEW             PP  12    10/1             moneyballstable

Bay colt by Union Rags comes off good 2nd to Troop Shack in the Grade 2 Long Beach Island Juvenile, his first graded stakes try.  Earned a nice 99 SP# in that stretch running effort.  Prior was a poor 7th in first 2014 try in a residency listed stakes at today’s distance.  Closed out 2013 with a NW2L allowance win at 8.5 furlongs.  SP #’s have consistently improved with each start; stretch runner from the moneyballstable can be a contender if that pattern continues and gets a good trip.

READY AIM ZAP             PP  13    9/1             caveman2

Makes seventh consecutive graded stakes appearance, this being his first Grade 1.   Ghostzapper chestnut colt out of the Grade 2 winning mare Ready Aim F, got his 2014 season off to a nice start with a good 3rd in the Grade 2 Atlantic City Futurity at a mile, scoring a solid 106 SP#.  Closed out 2013 with a 5th in the Grade 3 Pleasure Stakes at 8.5 furlongs.  One prior was a front-running win in the Grade 3 Nashua Special at a mile, with a 99 SP#.  Was also 4th in the Grade 2 The Future Stakes back in September.  Owner caveman2 hopes his trainee’s experience will help in today’s event;  will certainly be a pace factor.

SEEKING SHADOWS         PP  14    11/1             icbomber7

Brown Awesome Again colt from the icbomber7 stable comes off a late closing 6th in the Grade 2 Jersey City Classic at today’s distance.  Prior was a win in a residency listed stakes in his 2014 debut, with United Slew in his wake.  Got his act together when started racing two turns, winning two conditioned allowances at a mile in final two freshman starts.  From the clouds closer will need a good trip from far outside post, should be flying down the lane at the finish.