Derby Post #14: Virtuoso

Bluegrass Derby
Grade I

VIRTUOSO

CRYPTOCLEARANCE x EL PRADO(IRE) x FIT TO FIGHT

Owner:  Super Stables

Trainer:  Super7

Record:  10 races 5-1-2

Jockey:  F Gossett ( 291 – 67 – 52 – 44 – 23% )

Like a well oiled machine, the Super Stables have not one, not two, not three but five entrants in this year’s Bluegrass Derby –G1.  Add to that, four more entrants in the Oaks and you’re looking at the closest thing the Sims have to a monopoly.  The idea:  use dispensable income to create a series of monster stables full of the most royally bred horses and dominate the game.  As controversial as the Super Stables have been, their efforts have been successful if not proven before hand then certainly today.  What is needed for this juggernaut now is for them to stamp themselves in Sims history by capturing both the Derby and Oaks. 

Breaking out of the #14 post for them today and Derby winner hopeful is Virtuoso.  This Cryptoclearance colt took the Super Stables by surprise by running consistent through most of his races but really coming on strong since turning three.  He’s just been lost in the limelight of his stablemate Rhibus but has certainly earned his way to the Derby. 

Virtuoso, a dark grey colt,  started his career with a bang winning his first time out and posting an 80 speed rating in the process but the celebration was questioned in his next start at the allowance ranks when he did manage a win but dropped in speed to a 66.  The race was run at the exact same distance and condition as his first but some doubt surely had to arise.  Many who follow the Super Stables if not the owners themselves had to wonder if they had a one race wonder on their hands.  Not to be deterred, Super7 immediately pointed him at the High Roller’s Juvenile –G2.  It was this race that he really started to show that deep closing move he is now known for and charged into the stretch but found himself running out of real estate finishing 3^rd less than two lengths back and with an 86 speed rating to boot.  The excitement returned for the SS group and they moved him for even tougher competition.  However, the bubble burst again as Virtuoso failed to fire and finished a disappointing 9^th in the Horsehead Juvenile –G1.  With only one more start available before the Breeder’s Bowl Juvenile –G1 the SS group, who were wanting to dominate that race as they have here, tried once more for a win and enough points for him to qualify in that race.  The decision was made to make it a go in Camel Juvinile –G3.  Trying two turns for the first time, Virtuoso broke slowly and was 14^th of 14 at the quarter pole.  This did not have the SS group worried as he was already known to close like a freight train and did he ever.  The only thing standing in his way of his first graded win:  a little chestnut colt name Half A World Away.  Half A World Away wired the field that day and held off the strong closing Virtuoso winning by two lengths.  On the bright side though, Virtuoso managed enough points with that finish to earn a spot in the BB Juvey despite having never won a stakes event.  When the big day came he ran a good race even posting a personal best speed rating of 9.  But as would be expected the day the best all gather in one place, he found the competition to tough finishing 5^th to the eventual winner Half A World Away.  He finished his two year season with a strong 3^rd in the Movieland Futurity –G1 but again drifted too far back and ran out of track in the stretch run.  He finished that year with a record of 7 races 2-1-2 but not a single stakes win in the mix. 

Out with the old and in with the new.  2006 would prove a different start for this colt.  After the last champagne bottle was emptied and the final rendition of Aud Lang Syne was sung, the SS group and Super7 put their collective mind together and decided maybe what this colt needed was a little confidence boost and a glimpse of the winner’s circle.  Two weeks into the new year he made his 2006 debut in the No Cal Handicap –Stk, and with that move down in class and a shortened field of runners Virtuoso found what he had been looking for.  No, not a girlfriend, a trip to the winners circle and his first stakes win.  Not only did he win, but at 9 furlongs he managed not to run out of room as he had at the shorter distances.  He’s been on fire ever since.  As if the Wizard himself had given him a new heart, Virtuoso and the SS group took back to graded company and went south of the border hoping to find that elusive graded win or at the very least a nice bottle of tequila.  In Mexico in week 2769 he was entered into the (umm)….The Mexico 2769 Stakes –G2.  This time running at 9.5 furlongs he once again came from last to first just nipping across at the wire and wham, his first graded win!  The celebration lasted way into the night and as many Corona’s were downed that night and with that a new hope at the Derby emerged.  But was it enough?  Even with that win and several seconds and thirds, did he have enough points to find a spot the first weekend in May?  He needed at least one more good showing if not a win in a graded race.  But with so many other owners looking for the same and on the bubble could they avoid the top horses and find a soft field.  If they were going to make a go of it, they decided, let’s show him the Kentucky track as a final prep and see if likes the surface.  That final race was the Corkscrew Stakes –G1 and once again he made a late move from way in the back and won with a career high 98 speed rating.  That win was enough to lock it up here he sits poised for an upset and possible roses in his future.

However, questions still remain.  This is a wide open field of runners but he’s yet to crack that triple digit speed figure that you would expect from a derby winner at this point.  Also, given his running style he’ll be making his move at the 3/16^th pole and not only will he have to make his move on the turn but will have to maneuver around at least 15 horses to find an open lane much less the lead.  Finally, it looks as if only three horses will try to challenge for the early lead and that doesn’t exactly set the type of pace that you would hope for with a back of the pack closer type as he is.  But, at 10 furlongs he may have finally found the distance that he’s been looking for and close just in time to shock the fans and the field. 

Named after a magazine article entitled “Virtuoso Performance” about the world famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma (Maverick cheers as he’s been a cellist for 28 years), hopefully My Old Kentucky Home will be your song today.

–Maverick