The Bluegrass Derby Trail 3154 Preview
If there were any doubters of DEGOLDENSTORM’s domination over the three-year-old colt division, after this week’s dismantling of the Fountain of Ute field in Florida, the non-believers are joining the disciples of the ‘prophecy of the roses’.
Allowing HENIANLAUCH to exert his usual front-end force, jockey M Wright settled DEGOLDENSTORM behind the fast early pace. With the rest of the field laboring through the final turn, Wright showed the imposing son of Dehere the whip, tapped him once on the shoulder and rolled on by the pace-setting HENIANLAUCH.
Untested at nine panels, look for the topped ranked three year old to remain in Florida for the Florida Derby, leaving him five weeks to prepare for the Bluegrass.
HENIANLAUCH continues to prove speed is dangerous, and if he had picked any other Bluegrass prep last weekend, the Thoro-Graph boys would be red-boarding how the talented son of Hennessy was ready to run a new top. Of course, after a number like he had on Saturday, 104, a bounce is in order, but this colt likes to run his races close together, and with his best racing done on the west coast, expect this colt to let someone else take down DEGOLDENSTORM for the time being, and point himself towards the California Derby next time out.
Finishing third in the Florida feature was dogman65’s GRAMID. Employing his usual come from the back tactics, the son of Peaks and Valleys found himself too far back at the half, leaving him too much work to do in the stretch. Don’t count this stretch runner out though, he never runs a bad race, and is getting better at the right time. Nine furlongs is next, you can bank on it, and that can only work to his advantage.
MORPH THE CAT never threatened, leaving his Bluegrass expectations much in doubt.
The Smallville Cup found the top twenty ranked, PSYCHOTIC GOLD, SPITFIRE MK I, and DEMPTOS all posturing for a photo-shoot in the Kansas ovals winner’s circle, but it was auror’s BE AUROR SONG stealing the spotlight in a nose bobbing victory over the charging SPITFIRE MK I. The Grade III victory was enough to move the son of Unbridled Song up to number 28 in the rankings, still with some work to do, but with a win at 1 1/8, he has a leg up on most of his competition.
SPITFIRE MK I put forth a valiant effort in the Smallville, losing the photo finish by only a nose, but the 2nd place finish was good enough to rank him 12th in the three-year-old division. Moving fastest of all in the final yards, look for this capable son of Tiznow to return to the Sunshine State in four weeks, where he won the Grade II Just to Get a Rep Futurity, and duplicate that performance in the Florida Derby.
PSYCHOTIC GOLD could not dispel the possibility that he may have needed the race in the Too Short Special, turning in another poor performance on Saturday. The son of Freud could wind up in the Bluegrass starting gate, but given his last two starts, doubts have to be surrounding the New York breds camp.
DEMPTOS perhaps garnered the most interest going into the Kansas feature, given the son of Smarty Jones’ late closing ability, but failed to respond when asked and finished a disappointing 8th, nine lengths behind the winner, while still seeking his first Graded victory.
RAVENCRAFT CASTLE(IRE) made the most of his opportunity this week capturing the Grade III Gary Asher Memorial Stakes in Kentucky, his second consecutive win over that oval, to land him as an also eligible on the Bluegrass Derby Watch list. The son of Castledale(IRE) came from off the pace to score a decisive victory in the 1 1/16 test, and given his affinity for this racetrack, could be a force if he makes this Derby field.
RIO SECCO finished up the track in his bid to notch his first Stakes victory in the Grade II HUTCHINGSON Stakes. The Derby Trail is starting to look like a long journey for the son of Sky Mesa.
This week marks the first running of a Derby Lock Race in sim racing history in the All Saints Derby in Louisiana. The winner of this race will gain an automatic entry into the Bluegrass Derby starting gate. Looking to make sim history is pedroza’s DIXIELAND WELLS, stormborn’s MR. MISTOFFELLEES, and lever’s top ranked filly SISSION’S CHANT.
DIXIELAND WELLS is coming off an impressive victory LTO in the $65k MINE FOREST Challenge where he just got up in time to turn in a career best 97 SP figure off of a seven-week layoff. This will prove a critical test for the Dixieland Band offspring, as he has yet to win beyond eight furlongs, and will have to prove his worth against some of the top three-year-olds in the country.
MR. MISTOFFELLEES comes into this affair the winner of four of eight starts, finishing 2nd LTO in the $40k STORMY PROSPECTOR Challenge off of a two-month layoff. Look for this son of Storm Cat to improve off of that effort, as he looks to carry his natural speed to the wire and get to witness My Old Kentucky Home in the post parade.
In somewhat of a surprise, at least to this writer, is the presence of the top ranked filly SISSION’S CHANT. With an apparent spot in the Derby field, trainer lever’s has elected to enter his champion filly into this tough ‘Lock’ field, perhaps the race that decides if it’s the Bluegrass or the Oaks.
Keep an eye on GOGO GIZMO who is coming off a stellar performance in the Grade III Thousand Island Stakes LTO, and stands to benefit the most with a victory in this race, ranked 30th, on the outside looking in, he gets to go to the head of the class with a victory here.
Maryland features the other Derby Prep race on the weekend, the Grade I – I AM NOT A CROOK Classic. This race features top twenty runners INSKY WINSKY SPIDA, LUCKY’S CAPITAL(ENG), THUNDER PUNCH, and SMOOTH AS BUTTER, in what might prove to be in itself a derby lock race should any of these four take home top honors.
INSKY WINSKY SPIDA, making his third start in eight weeks for the corzacan stables, has the speed to be a factor but has never won beyond a mile, and given his present form could be hard pressed to menace here.
LUCKY’S CAPITAL(ENG) is fresh off his Grade II win in the I’m Trying two weeks ago in Epsom. In the midst of a three race win streak, it will be interesting to see how this winorplace trained son of With Approval handles his fourth start in seven weeks.
THUNDER PUNCH has been the model of consistency for the cream stable, but is still looking to capture his first Graded Stakes victory. If there ever was a week to step it up, this is it. He’s got as good a shot as any in here, and judging from his change in running style in his last start, he just might have a better shot than most in this field.
SMOOTH AS BUTTER needs this win for the springtime stables. Beaten soundly in his last two starts, the son of Freud is on the outside looking in and can’t afford anything but a top three finish this week if he hopes to make the trip to Kentucky.
Keep an eye on WATERGATE SCANDAL, who prepped over this course for this race, winning the PAUNCH’S WAR Challenge LTO. The Empire Maker colt, trained by jonsnow, has won three in a row, and will have to be caught if anyone wants to take a giant leap in the rankings.
KING OF ALL MEDIA looks to rebound in the $65k FIT ABDUL Stakes off his disappointing performance in the Thousand Island Stakes LTO. The moneymaker trained son of Mass Media may have fallen victim to the off going in Nebraska, but should have no excuses in this small Nevada field; tightening up his position in the Derby rankings.
Things are heating up…plenty of surprises, even more disappointments, and lots of anxious moments. It’s Derby time; let the excitement begin.