Big Race Recap 3175

Rapid Grey was probably the day’s most impressive winner. The winner’s of the G1 races this week took care of business winning by clear margins. The Derby gates get two more confirmed starters, both deep closers. Lets take a look at this weeks results.   

Race: 3175.5111 Sand Castle Derby — Derby Lock Prep – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Dubai
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Dirt

Achaemenes closes strong and earns a spot in the gate at the Bluegrass. In the early going Alba Sea King jumped out quickly and set a torrid pace setting up the show down of closers. Achaemenes was thirteenth in the early stages more than twelve lengths off the early pace. Back in the pack with Achaemenes was Creepy Mesa and Morph the Cat. Morph and Creepy were several lengths in front of Achaemenes about nine lengths off the early pace.

That quick early pace ran the legs off of the stalkers and while the pace setter was struggling in the stretch Achaemenes, Creepy Mesa and Morph the Cat were gearing up for the stretch run. These three had moved into striking distance about five lengths from the pace setter at the top of the stretch. From there Achaemenes was kicking into high gear, with all three runners Achaemenes, Creepy Mesa and Morph the Cat striking the lead together.

Achaemenes was clearly going the best and quickly separated from the other two to win by a length and three quarters. Creepy Mesa faltered in the late stages allowing Morph the Cat to grab second in deep stretch. It was another four lengths back to the fourth place finisher Thick and Thin.  

Race: 3175.0214 Florida Derby — Derby Lock Prep – Grade I – $750,000
Track: Florida
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Dirt

Awesome Force turns in a great performance in what is probably his final prep before the Bluegrass Derby. The race favorite and top Juvenile from last year, degoldenstorm, never got into the race today. Awesome Force meanwhile just kept doing what he does best, close strongly.

The early pace was pressed and set by Atowncalledbedrock. He was lightly raced but has already shown some talent. He took a commanding two length lead at the top of the stretch but did not have enough gas in the tank to hold off Awesome Force. Awesome Force was twelve lengths off the pace and eight lengths back at the top of the stretch. He flew home in the stretch running down Atowncalledbedrock in deep stretch. Awesome Force pulled away to win by almost three lengths at the wire. Atowncalledbedrock held his ground against the rest of the field finishing second. It was a couple of lengths back to Mr. Eko who moved back in against runners his own age. Mr. Eko was mid pack in the early stages and made steady improvement position wise through the stretch to hit the board four and a half lengths behind the winner.

Race: 3175.6215 Little Guppy Classic – Grade I – $500,000
Track: France
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and three eighths on the Turf

Rapid Grey dominates this field on his way to an impressive four and three quarter length victory. The other old veterans had bad races, Rain God was no where near the early pace and never got going. Sunnybank Memorial was near the back and did not close enough ground to get into contention.

Rapid Grey though was dead last early almost sixteen lengths off the early pace. At the top of the stretch he was still more than nine lengths off the pace setter and that is when he started to run. The rest of the field appeared to be moving in slow motion as he passed with reckless abandon and put nearly five lengths on them by the time he crossed the wire.

Tete the Undead pressed the early pace and had taken the lead entering the stretch. He had nothing in a way of response for the winner but stayed on well enough to easily hold second place by a length over the third place finisher. El Fredo is no stranger to graded stakes wins in these long turf races. He ran a solid race from towards the back of the field. He looked like he was in good striking position at the top of the stretch but like the others he could not keep up with the winner. He closed four lengths on Tete the Undead in the stretch but could not catch him settling for third.