AFC’S FIVE ON THE DRIVE

Not tooting my horn here, but the #1 colt in the previous Drive For Five longshot hunt for the Bluegrass Derby (El Industrial), just locked up his slot in the Derby with a resounding triumph in the Derby Lock Prep All Saints Derby. Showing his usual furious late kick, El Industrial proved he belongs with his second straight 100+ figure in a fairly facile victory. All that remains to be seen with this long striding beauty is if he can keep his late kick at greater than nine furlongs. He came back little groggy, and per trainer ivanymil may now rest up to the big dance. With no pressure on him to make the gate on May 5, it’s a nice option to have- even if it may be a bit unattractive.

Here’s the latest bunch of hopefuls looking to scale the mountain.

#1: SONG OF PEGASUS (#67) Winner of three of his last five, this colt by Songandaprayer made easy work of the Alyhawk Stakes at a flat mile this past weekend. His figs are getting stronger, and if he can stretch out effectively, he could be a player.

#2: BLASTSHAFT (#78) Powerfully built son of Mineshaft has only one blemish on his record in six starts thus far. He made amends for that off performance with a resounding score in 3140 with a front running win in the Our Well Handicap, scoring with a 101 figure. How much farther can he go?

#3:  KEPLER CRO COR (#63) Son of Crafty Prospector broke through in stakes ranks with an impressive score in the nine panel AP Rule Special in 3154. Need to wonder if it was the off track; if not, this guy got much, much better going longer than he previously had, showing tremendous speed right from the gate.

#4: VALID MISSLE (#105) A big colt by Golden Missle, he was compromised early in his career waiting for his mind to catch up to his super size body. Now, it looks like everything is falling into place. Broke his maiden in his sixth career start, now has won three of his last five, including the Trying To Get on the Triple Crown Trail Stakes with a 99 fig at nine furlongs. Off the board only once in routes. Excellent early speed, and it looks like he can carry it a distance.

#5: BE AUROR SONG (#32) Score in the Grade 3 Smallvile Cup in 3147 propelled the son of Unbridled’s Song to excellent striking position. So why is he down here at #5 this week? Simply because it looks like he may have met his match in terms of distance. But the only thing that counts is winning, and he showed a lot of heart LTO. One to watch in the big Lock Preps in the coming weeks.

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BLUEGRASS DEBY TRAIL Review

In last week’s feature prep race for the Run for the Roses, the Grade II All Saints Derby, it was ivanyamil’s EL INDUSTRIAL closing the door and turning the key on top twenty rivals, MR. MISTOFFELEES, DIXIELAND WELLS, and filly champion SISSION’S CHANT to lock up a place in the Bluegrass field. The race marked the first running of a Derby Lock Race, where the winner is guaranteed entry into the Bluegrass Derby starting gate.

The explosive son of Pulpit had more than nine lengths to make up and seven horses to pass when he started his stretch run, but when Jockey EN Thomas took him to task, the resounding colt responded with furious rally down the lane to record a decisive and historic victory.

Ivanyamil – “This is my best day in the sim”… ‘We will be pointing him to the Wooden Indian or the Chicago Derby.’

Continuing to pile on the Stakes points, lever’s sensational filly SISSION’S CHANT finished up with good energy to take third place honors in the 1 1/16-prep.  The talented War Chant offspring has already demonstrated that competing with the colts is not an issue, and her convincing victory in the 1 1/8 Eruption has established her ability to handle a distance of ground. She may have not won this Lock race, but she will be in the Bluegrass starting field if her connections so choose.

MR. MISTOFFELEES, breaking from the outside, settling in good position just three lengths behind the leader, was well within striking distance, but failed to respond when roused and retreated to fifth.

Bonkowski – “I had EIGHT TRACK MIND tracked and should have run by him if I had any horse. He just didn’t respond. I have no reason why.”

The loss knocked the stormborn-trained colt from the top twenty-five rankings, and while a well-placed victory would put him right back in the hunt, the Storm Cat colt is left with a tall order.

DIXIELAND WELLS disappointed with a lackluster performance in the All Saints, leaving his connections puzzled about his lack of consistency.

pedroza – “He wasn’t running at all, he wasn’t in the race. He just didn’t want to run. I don’t know.” 

The loss moved the son of Dixieland Band off of the radar and left him on the outside looking in.

It was the Grade I I AM NOT A CROOK Classic that stamped LUCKY’S CAPITAL(ENG) as a major player in the three-year-old classic.  Establishing himself as the 8-1 third choice favorite in the Bluegrass future odds, the son of With Approval earned his fourth victory in a seven week span, and hasn’t shown any ill affects of a vigorous campaign.  Closing from far back, winorplace’s brilliant 3yo passed the pacesetter in deep stretch to draw off and win by 3 ¼ convincing lengths.

Throw out a poor off track performance and you quickly realize WEEHAWKEN is a serious Bluegrass contender.  Turning in solid performances in the Grade II Can’t Wait for Next Week, and Grade I I AM NOT A CROOK Classic, the topsire trained son of Essence of Dubai pushed himself up to number fourteen in the Bluegrass rankings, and appears to be hitting his best stride at the right time. 

INSKY WINSKY SPIDA(JPN) continued to blaze his speed in has usual ‘catch me if you can’ effort to finish up with a courageous third place effort for the corzacan stables.  One of these days the free running son of Stravinsky is going to forget to stop, and with a fourth ranked distinction in Bluegrass placement, it just could come on that first Saturday in May.

Springtime’s SMOOTH AS BUTTER and jonsnow’s WATERGATE SCANDAL failed to enhance their chances at a Bluegrass opportunity while finishing 9^th and 14^th respectively.  SMOOTH AS BUTTER was in good position early, but was no factor in the stretch drive, while the latter could not keep up with the pacesetter and steadily declined after the half.

THUNDER PUNCH never threatened, but remains within reach of a Derby slot, but would have to show much more than he did in Maryland.

BOSS HOG LAGO(AUS) used the Grade II Felipe Alou Cap to launch his bid as a top contender in the Bluegrass Trail. The billy2shoes trained son of Encosta De Lago(AUS) used a strong closing kick to crush a modest field of Derby hopefuls.  The win marked the Australian bred’s first Graded victory, and if he can get those rockets burning passed 8.5 furlongs, could have some say in the Bluegrass outcome.

With tbgifted chomping at the bit for more distance of ground for his stretch-running son of Birdstone, you have to believe he is more than satisfied with his capable three-year-olds performance in France on Saturday.

Tbgifted – “He’s doing very well and should handle the 1 1/4 mile distance no problem.”

With some mile and three-sixteenth races on the horizon, tb should get his wish, and if he right about his colt, will get his chance to prove it in the Derby.

KING OF ALL MEDIA made short work of a small field in the FIT ABDUL Stakes on Saturday.  The win held down the moneymaker trained son of Mass Media’s position in the Bluegrass rankings, and is being handled carefully by his connections.  Expect a fast and fit horse in Kentucky.

With one position locked in the Bluegrass field, and four others with a firm hold on a spot in the Derby starting gate, opportunities are starting to diminish.  The remaining Derby Lock races will be hotly contested, especially after EL INDUSTRIAL demonstrated what happens when you make the most of an opportunity.

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