The Boston Derby
I must admit ignorance here. At first glance, I wasn’t aware the fine state of Maryland had annexed the equally fine city of Boston, but it’s a good thing they did because they now have the good fortune of playing host to fourteen horses seeking victory in the G-2 Boston Derby. An intriguing field to be sure, with two top contenders who couldn’t have taken more different paths in getting here. One is an established superstar who needs no introduction, the other is a potential beast you may not have heard of yet. Here’s a look at your field, from the rail out.
1 Devil’s King (IRE) (stevesutto) – One had to believe this Refuse To Bend colt was going to be a pretty special three-year old when he closed out his freshman campaign with a trio of victories, but he really hasn’t been able to parlay that early momentum into the kind of year his trainer was probably expecting. You could argue that he fits in here based on a pair of runner-up performances in G-2 company, but his top speed figure came last out in an allowance race that saw everything go his way and there are probably half a dozen in here that would have rolled that field just as convincingly. He’s also been topped by Cortez (IRE) on a couple occasions, which makes it all the more difficult to endorse him for the win. A fourth or fifth place finish this week might be his ceiling.
2 Andy’s Choice (gunsynd) – No question this feast-or-famine type has had some tremendous highs — the four race win streak culminating in G-1 glory to kick off his career and then absolutely running out of his mind in capturing this year’s rendition of the 2,000 Guineas — but, really, how good is he? The 2,000 Guineas score is his only victory of the year and his eighth place finish last out in the Sussex Stakes was the fourth time he’s finished eighth or worse this year. Deep closer is probably going to need the stars to align just right in order to top this field and get into the winner’s circle. If you’re still looking for a reason to believe he can pull off another shocker, he did finish eighth in his prep race for the Guineas…
3 Streets Of Fire (IRE) (upperhand2) – Street Cry (IRE) colt likes to win races and faced a tougher field last out than he does this week, but all that got him was the privilege of getting well acquainted with the backsides of a couple millionaires and a sixth place finish at 17 to 1. He does have a G-2 on his resume, but the speed figure earned that day was ten points higher than anything he’d run previously and, call me a cynic, but I’m not certain he can duplicate it. And even if he can, that still may not be enough to crack the top three this week…
4 Clemstone (IRE) (lou64) – Let’s see. Winless this year? Check. No triple-digit speed figures? Check. Finishes behind both Andy’s Choice and Silver Court in his past performances? Check. Multiple G-1 failures? Check. Speedy colt crosses the Atlantic for this and his best efforts have come in America, but specifically California, so… perhaps he prefers a hardened, sun-baked turf course over those European turf courses that have some give to them. Even if that’s the case, he still finds himself on the wrong coast this week though. Another off the board finish this week? Check.
5 Silver Court (ts1442) – Okay, so taking on his elders might have been a bad idea and a little premature, but this speedy, dark grey colt loves to win and that was one seasoned and talented bunch of horses he tackled last out. Prior to that debacle he’d had a nice runner-up finish to a good one in the St. James Tavern and topped Andy’s Choice that day as well. And prior to that, he’d strung together a trio of victories, so he certainly merits a second look, but it’ll be interesting to see how he bounces back from the drubbing he took last out.
6 Very Silver (acote) – From one Silver Ghost colt to another and, like Silver Court, this one comes into this off a miserable performance in his last when he was eleventh in the Big Red Stakes. To be fair, that was his first stab at a mile and a quarter and it’s possible he just doesn’t want to go that far. Nothing wrong with his efforts prior to that and a win today would make him a millionaire. Rates a loooong look as he cuts back in distance and he may well be the darkhorse of the bunch in here…
7 Tyson (qtips) – Bargain-bred comprises half his owner’s stable, so you know he’s getting a lot of attention and he has been respectable in stakes company of late, but… this ain’t stakes company. One-time claimer’s top speed figure came in a restricted allowance and he’s never faced anything resembling a field like this. Would make for a great story, but it appears he’s biting off a lot more than he can chew… and I ain’t talking about Holyfield’s ear.
8 The Preacherman (hilary7170) – Another bargain-bred and another who makes the trip across the Atlantic. He’s also another who got slapped around by his elders last out and really, with a two for seventeen mark lifetime, it doesn’t appear he’s all that fond of winning. Maybe he has an aversion to getting his picture taken, but being camera shy isn’t an attribute many graded stakes winners share. Needs God’s help and then some this week.
9 Steal My Money (AUS) (leftcoastj) – Lone Australian in the field has a good deal of stakes experience and has proven to be a talent on both dirt and turf. That said, he does appear to be better on the turf and that’s fortunate because they’re racing on the turf this week. This guy always gains ground in the stretch and the extra furlong he gets today might be of some assistance, but this is his first try at graded stakes foes and with sixth and eighth place finishes in tow, he doesn’t appear to be coming into this with his best form.
10 Good To Be King (super21) – Son of Kentucky Derby winning sire Smarty Jones has found a home on the grass and does come into this ultra-sharp, but he’s proven to be more bridesmaid than victor with a trio of runner-up efforts in G-1 races. He has finished ahead of Cortez (IRE) in the past, but he’s also finished behind him in the past and, upon further review, he’s never really been close in those aforementioned G-1 efforts. It’s nice to see he’s bounced back from the misfire three back as he earned a career-best speed figure in his last race and a repeat of that performance would put him right near the wire again, but anything less and he’s probably out of the exacta…
11 Cortez (IRE) (slipknot22) – Talk about DISRESPECT. This is another one that likes to win races… only he calls them Derbies. Multi-millionaire is undoubtedly the class of the field and yet he finds himself the second choice on the morning line? What gives? Well, if they were running three more furlongs this week you’d have to think this guy would have them over a barrel, but they’re not and that might make him a little vulnerable. Still, he’s more than capable at this distance and this is his first time outside G-1 company since April Fool’s Day… certainly the horse to beat, but they’re catching him at a good time, in a good situation…
12 Flushing Waters (IRE) (pm) – Longest shot on the board is another by High Chaparral and he has won four of five, but kind of get the feeling he’s just been overwhelming inferior opposition. Can’t really fault the trainer I suppose as he’s gotta take this step sometime, but why the four-month layoff after the smashing stakes win? And why bring him back in an allowance? Talented horse and he probably has a future in the game, but he’s still giving away a ton of experience and the speed figures are still pretty light for this bunch. Gotta think he misses the board for the first time in his career this week…
13 Brabastorm (brabant) – Only his fourth start on the green, but he sports some gaudy speed figures and there’s really no telling how good this guy can be. He’s an absolute rocket out of the gates and finds himself the favorite in here, but he still doesn’t have a stakes win to his credit — graded or otherwise — and he’s tacking on another furlong to his usual mile-long repertoire. The only real question I got is — who the heck is this jockey that’s aboard this week? Surely, he could have found himself a better one. Imposing colt, but don’t think he’s invincible this week…
14 Edison (darylboalt) – And really, what kind of field would this be if we didn’t have an Edison to go with our Tyson? The veteran of the field has eighteen starts to his credit, but barely a hundred grand in the bank and is another who seems to have an aversion to cameras as he’s only made a trio of trips to the winner’s circle. Last trip there was back in March when he topped a small field of allowance foes and, while he’s got a fair amount of stakes experience, he’s never gotten anything more than a slice and if he manages to get a slice in here it’ll be the highlight of his career…