2 fillies challenge 12 colts for Derby Prep Lock slot in G1 Arkansas Juvenile

                                                         Arkansas Juvenile — Derby Lock Prep

Arkansas (AR)              Saturday, April 12, 2014  —  3 PM   EST

Grade I / Group 1        Purse : $1,000,000      3 Year Olds

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today we gather at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas for the running of another Derby Lock Prep race, the million dollar Arkansas Juvenile at a mile and an eighth on the mile oval here.  Clear skies are forecast through the weekend, so the main dirt track will be fast for today’s event.  A dozen 3 year old colts and two fillies seek to guarantee themselves a starting gate slot in the Bluegrass Derby on the first Saturday of May.  Here’s a closer look at a very competitive field for today’s affair.

 

 

 

 

1    KEY TO THE GEMS                                              KY     7/1        moreready

Bay Gemologist colt regained his winning form taking the Tom E Nearctic listed stakes at 9.5 furlongs last out in Louisiana.  He recorded a 108 SP# that day.  Prior to that he was 5th in the Grade 2 Jersey City Classic at today’s 9 furlong distance, posting a 103 SP#.  His 2014 debut was a late closing 4th in the Grade 3 Legoland at a mile,  with a 103 SP#.  Won all three freshman races;  his SP#’s have improved each and every start.  Trainer morethanready would like to see that continue and notch a Derby slot with a stretch running effort.

 

 

2    UNFORGETTABLE SONG                             KY     11/1        nobiz

Owner nobiz sends out this light grey Unbridled’s Song colt out of the allowance winning mare Show No Remorse.  Was an excellent, front running 2nd in the Grade 2 Moises Alou at 8.5 furlongs in first graded stakes try,  earning a 107 SP#.  Prior was his initial 2014 race,  another front running  effort finishing 3rd in a NW4L allowance at today’s distance.  Won first three starts in wire-to-wire fashion.  Will be a certain pace facor, may be around at the finish with smooth trip.

 

 

3    DON’T DRINK IT                                                    KY     20/1        bikeboy

Another light grey colt, from Stay Thirsty out of the allowance winning mare Wendwater, was a well beaten 10th in his first graded stakes attempt in the Felipe Alou at 8.5 panels, ending a 7 race in the exacta streak.  One prior was a win in the Your Palaces listed stakes at 8.5 furlongs, with a 100 SP#.  Started off the year with a nice 2nd in a minor allowance race.  Trainer bikeboy runner will need to improve big time off last to have a chance in this field.

 

 

4    DARWINISM                                                             IRE     9/1         lenny26

Irish bred Raven’s Pass bay filly from the lenny26 stable comes off a pair of exciting, stretch running 2nds at today’s distance against her own kind.  Last out, she came from last in the Grade 2 Miss Bonnie in a return to dirt racing,  posting a 105 SP#.  One prior was a just miss placing in the Grade 1 Equinics – Workplace Diversity with a 104 SP#.  Began the year with a win in a residency listed stakes, also at 9 furlongs.  Her SP#’s have steadily improved each race;  will be flying down the stretch,  may get there in time.

 

 

5    ROMPING WEST TED                                   KY     14/1        woodenjock

Yet another light grey colt, by Trappe Shot out of the Grade 3 winning mare Groomed To Romp T, comes off a disappointing 8th place finish in the Grade 3 Gary Asher at 8.5 furlongs, behind one of today’s opponents, Bear Crossing.  Was a good 2nd in 2014 debut in The Rio Grande listed stakes at today’s distance.  Did win the Grade 2 High Roller’s sprint back in June,  and was a nice 3rd in the Grade 1 North Fork stakes in September at 8.5 panels.  Seems like he might be an in-and-outer;  will need to be in today to contend here for owner woodenjock.

 

 

6    BEAR CROSSING                                               KY     5/1         evilbear

Trained by evilbear, this light grey Tapit colt comes off a late closing 2nd in the Grade 3 Gary Asher, behind undefeated Song Of Ben, earning a 106 SP#.  One prior was a win in the Grade 3 Legoland at a mile, posting a 107 SP# in his sophomore debut.  Closed out 2013 with a win in the Grade 3 The Sam’s Town Delta Jackpot at 8.5 panels, with a 106 SP#.  Consistent, late running colt has not missed the exacta since starting route racing, is one of the ones to beat and the deserving favorite in this heat.

 

 

7    BRAKING BAD                                                      KY     12/1        fatattack

Bay Bernadini colt was an even 6th behind Marked last out in the Grade 2 Winter Wonderland at today’s route.  Was a fast closing 3rd in the Grade 2 Ocean City Juvenile in his season opener.  Got 2nd at 9.5 panels in the Killerzandglitterz in 2014 debut,  after a 3rd in the Wizard of Winter,  both listed stakes.  Owner fatattack is expecting improvement off initial graded stakes tries if his runnner is to compete with the faster ones in here.

 

 

8    SLEW INCLUDED                                                    KY     12/1        shredder

Shredder trainee won the Grade 3 Rebel Yell in front running fashion over this race track last out,  posting a 107 SP#.   Bay Include colt out of Mambo Slew took a while but finally notched 2nd win, in prior race, a NW2L allowance.  Consistent front runner will have company on the front end here, was 2nd only try at this distance.  Will need repeat effort of Rebel win and still have to hold off the late runners; tough task.

 

 

9    PLATYCERCUS CADET                                           KY     11/1        cadet3

Lightly raced bay colt by Smart Strike out of the Grade 1 winning, million dollar earning mare Rosella, was a front-running 2nd in the Grade 3 Buccaneer derby at 8.5 panels, posting a 105 SP# in his first graded stakes appearance.  Took a state-bred NW2L allowance one prior at the same trip in initial 2014 outing.  Owner cadet3’s charge looks to be part of the early pace scenarios;  any improvement off last and just may run away with it.  Contender.

 

 

10    FROM TOP TO BOTTOM                                    KY     7/1         xledwith3

Giant’s Causeway bay colt steps up in class here into graded stakes company, off four race winning streak.  Won the Purchase Race listed stakes at 8.5 furlongs last out,  with a 101 SP#.  Prior graded tries were uninspiring 4th and 6th place runs in the Middlepark and Nonethorpe, both grade 1’s, during his freshman campaign.  Best races seem to be on or real close to the early pace;  xledwith3 trainee should be a definite pace factor, but another who will have to hold off the late closers after fighting off the early runners.

 

 

11    MARKED                                                                          JPN     9/1         sprinter5

Owner sprinter5 sends out this bay Street Sense colt out of the allowance winning mare Shannon Scooner.  Last out was a dominant, front running score in the Grade 3 Winter Wonderland at today’s distance with Braking Bad in his dust.  He posted a 107 SP# in his initial graded stakes attempt.  Got 2014 off with a win in a NW3L allowance at 8.5 panels.  Finished off 2013 with a New Year’s Eve win in a NW2L allowance.  Will need to duplicate his Wonderland effort to stay with the front runners here,  and then has to hold off the late closers.

 

 

12    REVIVE ME                                                                     KY     9/1         juventus1

Chestnut Congrats colt from the juventus1 stable was a fast closing 2nd in the Grade 3 Rebel Yell behind Slew Included, scoring a nice 106 SP#, in his first try over this racing strip.   Prior was also a late closing 2nd in the Grade 2 Saint Vincent at 7 panels,  earning a 102 SP#.  Extra distance today will help, experience over the course may help, things may set up nicely for his stretch kick.  Threat.

 

 

13    WHISKEY PETE                                                        KY     10/1        xica1

Slow starting, late running bay Bernadini colt out of the stakes winning mare The One Ya Wanted makes his fourth start at today’s distance.  Was 4th in both the Grade 2 Hustlin Hoosier, and the Grade 2 Ocean City Juvenile, after lagging early in both 9 furlongs affairs.  Did earn a 103 SP# at today’s 9 panels in the Grade 2 Ransom using same tactics in late November.  He gets the contested pace scenario he needs, but can he outkick some of the other late runners ?  Trainer xica1 will be looking for his runner roaring down the stretch; could happen with a smooth trip and some racing luck.

 

 

14    SAMURAI SLAM                                                KY     24/1        graywolf7

The other lady in the race, this bay First Samurai filly makes her sixth Grade 1 stakes appearance.  She showed late charging 2nd place efforts in the 7 furlong Grade 1 Getaway, and the Grade 1 The Darley at 8.5 panels into October during her freshman season.  Has not hit the board in five races since then.  Stretch runner from the graywolf7 stable has a stretch runner’s chance in this field with expected hot pace, but will need marked improvement to contend.

 

 

Selections:

 

REVIVE  ME

BEAR  CROSSING

DARWINISN

 

Longshot:   SLEW  INCLUDED