Colts Converge on Florida for Turf Derby

Panhandle Park Derby
Grade III
A mile and one eighth
Firm Turf
$125,000
All horses, 3 years old

Race ID: 3462.0215

1 93910 RAGING MENACE(WA)  teerades  Y Fairington  5/1   

He sure didn’t cost a lot, and is proof positive that you can get a fast runner from a modest mare: mommy WILD ‘N’ FREE had a brief claiming career.  He is sire Trail City’s only stakeswinner, and a Grade 1 winner at that.  He’s looking for the formula that had him winning that one in October (the Knick Knack in Queensland), because he was subsequently last home in the Breeders Bowl Juvenile Turf and fourth in his last race.  If he finds the formula, he may find the winner’s circle.

2 10298 SISSON’S ZABEEL(NZ)  moonbeam  W Baumann  13/1  

His broodmare might have liked dirt better, but this Zabeel product has stuck to the green stuff in his five races.  He has two wins and a pair of stakes placings, and a return to the 89 speed number he ran in the LEZBAYBE IS LOADED Bonanza in Michigan two back would fit pretty well here.  Otherwise, he’ll be hard pressed to hit the board.

3 148638 ONE ON ONE(KY)  zewango2  L Buchta  4/1   

Second in the Del Penn Juvy Turf three weeks ago, this Lemon Drop Kid kiddie likes to be right on the pace.  He tried the Grade 3 Flying Saucer Stakes in September and finished fifth, just ahead of LOCAL DANCER(SWE), who is to his outside today.  With Buchta aboard and a positive trend in speed numbers, he’s looking like a serious contender.

4 146895 STORM AND SILENCE(KY)  wistful3  O Barrett  11/1     

His trainer was thinking dirt with this one, what with the Grade 1 dirt router COPENHAGEN AGAIN providing the pink side of the pedigree.  The switch to turf agreed with this Thunder Gulch colt, though, and he broke his maiden in Colorado last out while finishing strongly at 7.5 furlongs.  Having just a maiden win, the change in distance, and the moderate speed he earned are just a few of the questions facing this one in today’s graded stakes.

5 135489 MINISTER HERO(SWE)  leo4  N Torres  8/1    

Next come the half-brother Swedes and fellow members of the Nickesyd syndicate.  The inside of the pair is this Local Hero colt from an 0 for 2 Forty Niner mare.  Despite her record, MINISTER HERO(SWE) looks to become her fourth foal with a stakes win or placing.  He’s been running well all fall, but he followed two straight allowance wins with a pair of finishes off the board in stakes.  He ran evenly in those, so maybe the extra furlong will put him over the top.

6 140018 LOCAL DANCER(SWE)  ccc  A Darling  5/1    

For a country better known in the sports world for its skiers and its bikini team, it’s pretty impressive to have two Swedish runners in a graded stakes.  This Local Hero guy is from the nice Green Dancer mare LA GREEN.  He got his stakes win in the ABERLOUR Challenge back in August, and has finished second in two stakes at 8.5 furlongs since then.  He took December off and should be a fresh horse.  With a good jockey like Darling and confidence that he can get the trip, he’s a good play.

7 149809 ALCOPOPS(JPN)  kev  R Maire  6/1    

Undefeated ALCOPOPS(JPN) is one of three stakes winners from sire Alkaased’s first crop.  He debuted in Taiwan in October, winning a 7.5 furlong turf maiden, and has added a half furlong and a win in each of his next two allowance races.  He has a hard-closing style and rising speed numbers, with an impressive 92 in his last race.  This is trial by fire for the inexperienced colt, but he looks like a special one.

8 76711 DANISHA(ENG)  paceman2  V Gardner  2/1    

The first foal out of A-rated and multiple Grade 1 winner KRISHNA(IRE), he’s by Dansili.  He became a winner in his own right back in April, a week after mommy retired.  He moved too late in the Knick Knack Juvenile, finishing fourth behind RAGING MENACE(WA), but has since toyed with the opposition in two ungraded stakes.  He rated mid-90s speed numbers in those, and jockey Gardner knows how to win, so this outside horse deserves his favoritism.