Illinois Derby Lock Race draws a full field

          Hello race fans and welcome to chilly Illinois for the long awaited 7 th annual running of the Chicago Derby – Derby Lock Prep – G I . For the first time in Sim history , this great race is being heralded as a stepping stone to the big dance in May for 3 year olds … the Bluegrass Derby . Among the competitors are Graded winners , Stakes winners and a ferocious unbeaten colt by name of All Flags Gold , the winner of The Big Apple Dandy Stakes – ST in New York 13 th of March over 9 furlongs . This brown son of Seeking the Gold comes into today’s race prepped to step up in class and defend a sterling record of sprinting and routing over fast and slick dirt , to attempt to beard some of the divisions up and comers and stamp his derby ticket .

 

       There are 13 other runners who believe they have a date with destiny as well and will not go quietly into the night . King of All Media , the versatile Weehawken , and pace setting speedsters Severe Warning

 and Thunder Punch have a say whether this unbeaten up-and-comer will advance to the next tier and battle for the Derby crown in KY first week of May .

 

 

          Drawing the wood at  7 / 1 is undefeated sensation  All Flags Gold (KY) ( Seeking the Gold x Seattle Slew x Halo )  ridden by the crafty K Grunhard in the silks of trainer Muchalucha .  A perfect 4 for 4 sprinting and routing brings this colt to the time of truth : can he run with the best ? A solid field today will test him to his limits and make him earn his spurs if that is his Sim destiny . His last win came by an easy romp

New York Style over 9 furlongs in 1:49:1/5  98 SPf  March 17 th in  The Big Apple Dandy Stakes – ST defeating tested Stakes winners and upstarts alike . Some may call my praise of this colt hubris … but it’s only hubris if he loses . He loves to come from way back and thunder home to deliver his K.O punch , it’s an awe inspiring sight to behold and I look forward to today’s installation .

   

          In post 2 at  9 / 1 and ridden by the infallible  A Ching is  Northern Bullet (FL) ( Red Bullet x A.P Indy x Northern Dancer )  trained by Wabred1 . Grade placed at 2 , this brown son of Red Bullet took some time off this winter to train up for his 3 yo campaign . The warm up prep in February was a bit too short for his taste as evidenced by his victory March 3 rd over this very track in 1:49 flat for 9 furlongs in the Revirado Challenge -ST by 2  1/4 lengths 100 SPf . Some may recall that this colt lost to Sissons Chant last year in Delaware mid December over 9 furlongs in the Eruption Handicap – G I ; since then he has matured up nicely and looks extremely fit . Today might just be the day he shrugs off the beats of his past and earns his first graded win .

 

          In post 3 at  13 / 1 is the Confessor trained Kashmir Hex (IRE) ( Sadler’s Wells x Awesome Again x Gone West ) ridden today by winning Jock D . Mustafaa . A Stakes winner at 2 , this brown son of Sadler’s Wells has yet to hit his stride this year . A bad beat March 10 th in France over 8.5 furlongs in the Filipe Alou Cap – G II put more question marks to his name . Today will be the big test of his career and determine his place in the 3 yo dirt division .

 

          In post 4 is the Louisville trained colt at  20 / 1  Rock Hard Cat (KY)  ( Rock Hard Ten x Charismatic x Storm Cat )  jockey B. Bryant gets the nod . A Stakes winner at 2 , this colt saw some trouble when stepping up into Graded company last year . Four starts this year have all come up empty and time is running out for this chestnut son of Rock Hard Ten to make an impact . His last win came August of last year over 8.5 furlongs in The Their Master Bonanza – ST  1:44:3/5  84 SPf where he beat Derby bound Achaemenes in a hard fought battle to the wire . A return to that kind of gameness is whats in order for this colt to go on to the big dance .

 

          In post 5 is Severe Warning (IRE)  11 / 1 ( Theatrical x Alydar x Bold Ruler ) . Trained by Fairhaven5 and ridden by winning jock C. Noe , this brown son of Theatrical (IRE) has won 3 of his last 4 all routing .  He loves it up front and fights gamely for the lead , throwing all caution to the wind and making the field catch him if they can . Expect this colt to make a fierce pace today although there is always the question as to whether a horse will blossom or crumble when making the step up in class . Today , all questions will be answered .

 

          In post 6 at 9 / 1 is the well prepared Cream trained colt Thunder Punch (KY) ( Thunder Gulch x Storm Cat x Secretariat ) , classy  D McCants in the irons . A stakes winner at 2 and Grade placed , he showed great promise early on battling for the lead and punishing all who would try to beat him to the wire .  His first start of the season and his last win came January 27 th in Georgia’s The Pharrun Prospect Special -ST over 8.5 furlongs in 1:43:2/5  95 SPf . His last run was a shellacking March 10 th in Maryland when stepping into Graded company in the I am not a Crook Classic – G I where he got off late and never looked right at all after that finishing 13 th . A fluke perhaps , today he gets a chance for redemption and a pass to the biggest 3 yo race of the year .

 

          In post 7 ridden by slickster  W. Cabanniss and trained by Unostable is Zap de Lemon  10 / 1 ( Ghostzapper x Lemondrop Kid x Secretariat ) . A winner at first asking , this colt struggled a bit in Stakes company to end his 2 yo season . He fired up hot first outing over 7.5 furlongs January 20 th in Iowa’s The Zach’s Project Handicap -ST in 1:30 flat 93 SPf .  February 17 th saw in in the mud going 8.5 furlongs for the first time in Graded company in Louisiana’s Risen Star Stakes – G III 102 SPf  where he gamely battled with the Divisions boy Wonder Awesome Force and defeating Derby bound Achaemenes . He does best off the pace and today that could be the best position to take with all the early speed to contend with .

 

          In post 8 at  9 / 1 and ridden by young sensation G. Lauer is the Congaree2 trained GOGO Gizmo (NY)  ( Midas Eyes x Smarten x King’s Bishop ) .  A Stakes winner & Grade placed at 2 , the elusive Graded win came February 3rd in Nebraska’s Thousand Island Stakes – G III over 8.5 furlongs of off dirt in  1:43 flat  96 SPf  thrashing the field going wire to wire . Since then it has been a furious pace seeking a Derby birth and coming up short both times . This colt is another I expect to be up front battling for the lead and a win today is a must if he is to run against the elite 3 yo’s in May .

 

          In post 9 is today’s betting favorite Gramid (CAN)  6 / 1 ( Peaks and Valleys x Slewacide x Spend a Buck ) ridden by the steady M. Reveiz and trained by Dogman65 to the # 31 spot in the Classic dirt division , # 31 in the Long dirt division . Graded and Stakes placed at 2 , this colt really blossomed this year winning his debut in January over 8.5 furlongs on Northern California’s main track in the Silver Fence Derby – G III  1:42 flat  105 SPf  and dealing Awesome Force his first and only defeat of the year . In 9 starts he has never been out of the money and is a real contender today . He is most comfortable coming from the back to run down his competition gamely and today should prove to be a crucial player at the wire .

 

          In post 10 is the Flagdown2 trained Change of Plans (FL)  15 / 1  ( Mass Media x Captain Bodgit x The Minstrel ) ridden by F. Sinks . Stakes placed at 2 sprinting , this brown son of Mass Media matured over the winter and even tried the grass January 13 th this year going 8.5 furlongs and a place . Sensing the colts love of more distance saw a return to the main track and career high SPf’s last 2 outings and a steady improvement . His only start in graded company was disastrous last season , but maturity might be the ticket for this colt to put a ” W ” in the graded column .

 

          In post 11 is PGA Eurogreens (KY) ( Eurosilver x Green Dancer x Hail to Reason )  at  12 / 1 . Trained by Biggray and ridden by steady youngster M. Bowen , this Lt. Grey son of Eurosilver went 5: 2-0-0 as a freshman in Allowance company . Fast forward to Sophomore season . He is winless , twice Stakes placed and looking to make waves in Graded company . The more ground you offer this colt makes him run better yet the lack of experience in upper echelon racing places a question mark on his graded resume’ .

 

          In post 12 at 15 / 1 is Heroic Alex ( Belong to Me x Seeking the Gold x Broad Brush ) . Trained by Freeky3 , crafty vet P Williams gets the nod . A winner at first asking , this colts freshman season was rather uneventful till he hit 8.5 furlongs . Since then it’s been extremely convincing wins by 3 and  3 1/4 lengths and a 3rd place showing among Graded company February 24 th over 9.5 furlongs in Epsom’s I’m Trying – G II for a career best 95 SPf . This colt is improving every run , exactly what you want to see in a 3 yo this time of year .The real problem here is that it may be a bit too late , only a win today will send this fellah to the big dance . HOWEVER , expect this guy to make a splash later this season if he doesn’t make the Derby field .

 

          In post 13 is the Topsire trained colt at 9 / 1  Weehawken (FL)  ( Essence of Dubai x Lemon Drop Kid x Eastern Echo) and ridden by young star R. Logan . This colt won at 6 , 7 and 8.5 furlongs last year demonstrating his love for front running and becoming a Stakes winner defeating Graded winner Wild Dreams in the process over the very same distance he won at . He is winless this season so far but has managed to put up a pair of 2 nd’s in Graded affairs including his last race March 10 th in Maryland’s The I’m Not A Crook Classic – G I with a 95 SPf . The change in running style may attribute his lack of success , a return to a pedal-to-the-metal attitude might be just what the doctor ordered . Come what may , he belongs at this level of competition and I look forward to his future races .

 

          On the outside is King of All Media (FL)  8 / 1  ( Mass Media x Thunder Gulch x Storm Cat ) representing the stables of trainer Moneymaker and ridden by track sensation P. Munoz . A multiple Stakes winner at 2 , this brown son of Mass Media came out gunning this year winning his Sophomore debut January 6 th in Finland’s  The The Sting Handicap – ST  8.5 furlongs  1:43:1/5   96 SPf   followed by a G II win January 20 th in Victoria’s Can’t Wait for Nextweek – G II 8.5 furlongs  1:42:4/5  98 SPf . An off track in February cost this colt his lone loss this season and inspired an easy win in Stakes company March 10 th over 9.5 furlongs in Nevada’s The Fit Abdul’s Stakes – ST  1:56:1/5  96 SPf . He has been in Stakes + company last 9 starts and can truly say he has been tested thoroughly by some of the best dirt horses .