Heinanlaunch, full field chase Wooden Indian(G1) riches, Derby Lock Prep glory
New York– It’s put up or shut up time for Bluegrass Derby IX! We see the 4th, 5th, and 6th Derby Lock Preps this week and New York hosts the richest one of all in the Grade 1 $1,000,000 Wooden Indian.
As expected, the racing secretary attracted a full field of sophomore colts chasing that first Saturday in May dream. The Big Apple main course came up razor fast, so our nine furlong challenge could possibly be the fastest so far this season. Who knows? Perhaps this year’s Derby hero lies tucked away in our field. Let’s meet the candidates……………
He’s A Rocket Ready To Launch
Henianlauch(KY) (6/1) struts in after his fine 2nd in the Fountain of Ute(G2). The son of Hennessy possesses ferocious speed and he looked like a happy winner at Florida last month. Alas, that Degoldenstorm swept up for the victory. No worries though, Henianlauch broke through the century-mark speed figure barrier. With a 104 SP#, Henianlauch won the beginnings of his very own fan club. Particularly at the Northwest Racing Circuit residency (Henianlauch competed in their Cavalcade Cup on Breeders Bowl day last season).
Trainer crandyiv of course saw his prized colt capture the competitive Club Stakes(G2) after the Cavalcade Cup. This colt’s a rising star and you gotta love how he continues to race forward after tiring on DelPenn Championship day which closed out his freshman season. He’s a feisty villian so far — we don’t really know yet about his stamina since his pedigree is rather on the speedy side. But if you like your Derby contenders “blossoming,” then Henianlauch is your ticket. Top NY jockety Nancy Lawton agrees too — she’ll pilot Henianlauch up front, all alone, hungry for the winner’s circle. Kick the tires, light the fires, and watch Henianlauch go!
That Romantico, Fernando
Fernando always names his homebreds so beautifully! Belisario(KY) (7/1) is a word that just rolls off your lips — and the colt can roll from behind the pace too. Royally bred by Dixieland Band, Belisario smacked a miler stakes field last time out, recording his first career 100 SP#. The feisty youngster earned his feed in the sprinter ranks last season.
Belisario did try the graded level as a 3yo, finishing off the board in the 8.5f Thousand Islands(G3). Maybe he just didn’t like the off track. Improving colt, but he needs to prove himself worthy of the graded level. Gotta love that SP# LTO though. He’s bred for the lawn and don’t know how far he’ll go, but his triane rknows talent. Belisario is a sleeper Saturday. Lots of speed in this group, but he might be ready for a breakout score. If so, belissimo!
Mister Of Thunder, Minister Of Lightning
Mr. Mistoffelees(KY) (7/1) closed out a solid freshman season with an eye-catching victory in the Phenom Stakes(G3). The Storm Cat youngster won wire-to-wire in the 9f contest, marking his career best SP# of 97. the colt was graded-placed prior and also captured the GR Simsters Juvenile over a mile.
Trainer Given gave Mr. Mistoffelees a light Derby Trail schedule. The colt missed a photo in a New Mexico listed event back in February before finishing 5th four weeks ago in the All Saint Derby(G2). He got caught in a speed duel at Louisiana — hopefully ‘Mister has matured since and will allow jockey S Israel to rate him behind the lead. If so, then this colt might just find the winner’s circle. He keeps on improving and is very fresh. Four straight 90+ SP#S indicate class. Just has to avoid a speed duel. Definitely possible.
All The Globe’s Roads Lead to Kentucky
Cat Thief colt Global Affair(KY) (8/1) is a live sleeper after he just missed a month ago in the Gary Asher Memorial(G2). Trainer lucha has paitnetly handled Global Affair — the colt took his time marching through the ALW conditions, bagging victories in sprints to 8.5f. Love to see that SP# rise as he gradually stretches out. A live one!
Global Affair need to win Saturday for a trip to the Derby. Splendid talent in this closer. He might sit about midpack this week. Decent jockey aboard. Love this guy’s prospects. Must overcome rail. Not a lot to talk about on paper, but this colt’s ready for this race. Definite factor for the board if not victory.
Wanted: Valid Ticket Or (Oh No!) I’ll Miss It
Golden Missile is one of my favorite Sim sires and it’s great to see him represented here with Valid Missile(KY) (10/1). The colt took a spell to break his maiden last season, but has been an entirely different character at age 3. Trainer chloedawg got this speedster two zippy victories over 9 furlongs. The real cooker came here at New York where Valid Missile dueled head-to-head in the March 3 Trying To Get On The Triple Crown Trail Stakes. Valid Missile had plenty left down the stretch to win by near two lengths with a 99 SP#.
This frontrunner is quite impressive — we can maybe question the two weeks rest prior to his 3rd place finish March 17th here at New York. Vigorous schedule might make many handicappers worried. He’s got 3 weeks rest now and desperately needs the win if he hopes for a Bluegrass date. Hey, proven over the distance and his SP#s simply sparkle — gotta love that. The tough schedule and his fitness though are the big mysteries and of course he faces the like Henianlauch here for the lead. Not without a shot, but a lot to answer for.
Yoohoo, Rio! Time To Show Up For Real
Rio Secco(KY) (10/1) is this group’s total wildcard. The Sky Mesa colt was pretty good as a freshman, finishing a promising 2nd in the KY Horsemen Juvenile(G1). Unfortunately, he horrifically flopped in the BB Juvenile. Trainer fatattack then cut him back to one-turn in the DPCD Juvenile Sprint Championship(G1). Rio Secco woke up suddenly, making up tons of ground from off pace enroute to a fair 3rd place finish.
Moral of the story is that you can’t fault Wayne for thinking this colt was a sprinter. It was 10 SP# point improvement and seemed to explain the BB Juvy flop. The colt still was a 2yo winner over the mile, but perhaps he ran against questionable competition or the rest of the division “caught up” with him. So, as expected, Rio Secco began his ’07 campaign again around one-turn. The colt split a pair of ALWs and appeared primed for the 7f Hutchingson(G2) on March 3rd. Had to be a big disappointment for Wayne when the colt threw a yicky clinker in that race.
Fast forward here to Saturday and Rio Secco’s return to routes. Ranked #26, a placing or even a show here might see him garner enough points to survive the Derby “bubble.” But he has to fire big — worth a second look since he heas a lot of backclass and experience around two-turns. Just not a pretty prep trail on paper. We’ll see what happens.
Summon All The King’s Courage
By Kingmambo out of a Theatrical mare, you’d think King Of Mud(KY) (10/1) would be readying for the Derby de English trail via the Aussie Derbies later this month. Instead, trainer Nsw catches that ol’ Derby fever and King Of Mud is no slouch over the sand. The colt posted modest speed figures over the main track last season and won an 8.5f listed stakes this year.
I bet trainer Nsw decided on Saturday’s spot after King Of Mud ran a credible 4th in the March 10th Felipe Alou(G2). The stalker challenged at the top of the stretch, but couldn’t hang on in the 8.5f contest. He’s running like he needs to relax over more ground. Chalk up King Of Mud as another in your live longshots group. He fits in with the favorites. He needs the winners circle though for a Derby ticket. If he doesn’t get it, then maybe trainer Nsw will try this guy’s stamina in the Aussie Derbies according to pedigree.
The Sheriff’s Come To Bluegrass Town
IMO, here’s your winner at a snappy price. Boss Hog Lago(AUS) (11/1) won the Felipe Alou(G2) with a gorgeous 99 SP#. This colt is perfect through three lifetime routes and he just keeps getting better and better. He was decent last year around one-turn for billy2shoe — but wow! The closer just loves the extra ground and he won going away LTO by three smacking lengths.
Boss Hog Lago is a refreshing modest bred by Encosta de Lago(AUS) out of a Storm Bird mare. This guy’s bred for the classic distance. Perfect spot. Perfect timing. He should get some honest fractions up front too. Won or placed in 10-of-12 lifetime starts, so loads of experience. He’s winner written all over him. Ranked #15. My pick.
Last Call For A Chance At Roses
Simsters7 sends out a Green Desert colt. Last Rights(ENG) (10/1) took awhile to pick up steam in ’06, but the colt proved handy enough late in the year, winning his maiden and initial ALW starts. As a 3yo, he bolted out of the Derby Prep trail gate, capturing an 8.5f listed event with a sizzling 97 SP# in the 2nd week of January.
Last Rights however couldn’t race forward after such a fine start. The colt was unplaced in both the Thousand Islands(G3) and I Am Not a Crook(G1). Seems like he hasn’t taken to rating somewhat — he was more of a pace presser early on. Still, five straight 90+ SP#s put him in the hunt if he can somehow turn his season around. Bred for lawn and stamina. Not to be discounted, but has something to prove. Dark horse.
To The Royals Go The Spoils
Jdiso2’s Royal Soul(IRE) (11/1) breaks from the far outside. The Perfect Soul son claims a royally bred Seattle Slew x Mr. Prospector female family. And the stakes-winning colt ran to those lines out of the gate last season, capturing his first three outings easy peasy.
Things looked seriously promising for the late-blooming youngster. Unfortunately, he fizzled out the the graded gate in January and has only a placing in owner-restricted company to show for in 4 ’07 starts. On the bright side, you can probably toss out his off track debacle LTO in the Sleepy Fan(G2). On the flip side though, he just looks outclassed and not ready for this group. Tossing up a prayer with tons of inside speed. Luckily, he has yet to try the lawn which he’s bred for.
Friendly Skies, But Hostile Ground
Lightly raced Five Skies(IRE) (13/1) was a stakes winner around two-turns last year and improved somewhat in speed figures by the end of ’06. Gallorette’s son of Giant’s Causeway royally bred for the green stuff, but I guess his trainer has been plumb taken over by Derby Fever.
Five Skies appeared injured in his final freshman start and the setback sent him to the farm for a long layoff. The colt finally returned to light training in preparation for early March’s Fountain Of Ute(G2). The colt went off as a mild longshot and pretty much ran like one, finishing 8th of 14. Still, a solid 91 SP# effort under his belt might see him fresh as a tack for this week. Must win Saturday in order to make the Derby field. Worthy contender, but looks a bit rushed and out of place on paper. Has to grow up in a hurry.
Saved By The Bell Or Nothing Left In The Well?
Only six lifetime starts for Schoolofhardnocks(KY) (14/1), a son of Rock Hard Ten. He was a precocious sort last season, winning a Grade 3 event after breaking his maiden likety-split. Unfortuantely, he’s been nowheresville since then, way up the track in the Derby Trail grades.
Itsthebear’s downtown closer scored a 92 SP#, making up a lot of ground in the All Saints Derby(G2) LTO. ‘Nocks still finished 7th, but it was a good effort. There’s only so many times you can go to the well though. IMO, his female family’s bred for speed with Storm Cat x In Reality. Has to round back into form in a hurry. It’s now or never. Possible if a big speed duel develops.
Non Parkay Mon Ami, Butter’s For Me!
Trainer springtime gets on in the action with a son of modestly-priced stallion Freud. Smooth As Butter(NY) (15/1) soaked up the Kentucky course as a freshman, winning the End Of The Line Futurity(G2) which sent him to the Breeders Bowl Juvenile. The pace presser had a whale of time on BB day though, finishing also-ran. No worries however, because you just can’t keep the ‘Butter in the fridge too long. The colt sizzled from midpack in a rallying Minnesota Juvenile victory.
But that was 2006 — ’07 has been an entirely other matter with Smooth As Butter out of the frying pan and into the fire. He’s 0-for-3 in classy Derby Trail preps. Not much running at all indeed and he needs to wake up and smell the coffee. Last call for springtime’s Bluegrass Derby IX hopes. We’ll see if Smooth As Butter can pu it all together at long last here.
Rock Me To The Derby, Amadeus (Oh Ho Ho!)
Fate sees either a glorious symphony or just a li’l base diddy. Mozart’s Essence(FL) (25/1) is just a little guy by Essence Of Dubai. It took him a long time to finally break his maiden last year. He seemed in all fairness, quite average, but not to trainer wolfnjim. Mozart’s Essence’s trainer leapt him up to the stakes race immediately and the result was a couple of handy stakes-placings over a mile.
The stalker seemed to appreciate the extra ground. Mozart’s Essence made his graded stakes debut in his first sophomore outing: the Giant’s Slayer Classic(G3) back in late January. He came off of an honest layoff into that race and, unfortunately, ran quite dull, finishing last of all. Circumstances then made him sit on the sidelines for another 8 weeks. The colt dueled on the lead in a 9f listed Ireland event, finishing 3rd with a 91 SP#. Good number for Mozart’s Essence, but he’s gonna find himself in tough company this week. On only two weeks rest as well — can’t blame his trainer for having Derby fever, but the colt looks several lengths behind these horses at this point. Outsider doesn’t much of a chance.
Snowchief’s Picks:
This is a real solid field loaded with tasty longshots. Despite a possible speed duel, Henianlauch should be there at the wire — he’s a classy colt. Global Affair might get a piece of it. Belisario, Mr. Mistoffelees, King Of Mud might spoil my trifecta.
But I’m gonna go with Boss Hog Lago on top from far back. The fans cry “Suuuuu-eeeey!” down the stretch!
Win: Boss Hog Lago (Suuu-eeeeey!)
Place: Global Affair
Show: Henianlauch