Full Field Goes to Post in Panhandle Derby

The week after the world-renowned Breeders’ Bowl series of races have gone off in California, the sport of horse racing is light on graded stakes caliber races. However, all the way across the coast of the United States, there will be a graded stakes set to take place this Saturday. This race is the Panhandle Derby (G3) in Florida. The Grade III race, which offers a purse of $175,000 yearly, is open to three-year-olds only and is run over a mile and one eighth on the inner turf track. The race will be the highlight of this weeks meet in Florida and will go off as the fifteenth race on the Saturday card. The stakes record for this race goes to 2002 winner Cougar Bite, owned and trained by pedroza, who finished the mile and one eighth race in 1:47 1/5 with a speed figure of one hundred twenty. The temperature is going to take a dip here in Florida as some cooler weather from up north comes in early in the week. Expect cool temperatures of around 70 degrees Fahrenheit at post time. Some scattered showers are also to be expected in the days leading up to the race on Saturday, but are expected to clear out on Friday to leave the inner turf track listed as firm at post time on Saturday for the Panhandle Derby (G3). A full field of fourteen horses have drawn into this years’ Panhandle Derby (G3), lets take a look at the contenders.

1. Enchanters Endgame – (Badge Of Silver x Storm Cat x Mr. Prospector) – alverton – P. McAfee – 7/1

On the rail for the full field on Saturday in the Panhandle Derby (G3) is Enchanters Endgame, the flashy roan colt out of the race-winning mare Getaway. The roan colt is going to the gate on Saturday under Brundlefly Stables. The three-year-old made his last start over the good turf in the Haw Haw Derby (G3) in Illinois where he finished fourth, although nine and a half lengths off the pace in his only off-track start. His prior start, this coming over the firm turf, was in the listed Her Lass Challenge over nine furlongs in which he won by two and a half lengths. The colt is coming back to graded competition this week in the Panhandle Derby (G3), just his second graded start of his career. With the track here bound to be listed as firm, hopefully he will have a better run here in Florida than in his finish in the Haw Haw Derby (G3) over the good turf. To date, the colt has started in ten lifetime starts and earned a total of $221,420 in career earnings. Look for the roan colt to be out of the gate on or towards the lead.

2. Goldfriars (AUS) – (Blackfriars (AUS) x Galileo (IRE) x Seeking The Gold) – fortune500 – V. Gardner – 11/1

In the second post to the inside we have the Australian-bred chestnut colt Goldfriars, who is being entered into the Panhandle Derby (G3) under the Fortune500 stable group. The chestnut colt has made twenty-two career starts, all over the turf. With these twenty-two starts the colt has earned $699,950 in career earnings, just over half a million dollars. His most recent race was in the ten furling Saint Ledge Stakes (G3) in Epsom. The colt broke out of the gate in the middle of the pack but didn’t fair too well in the race, finishing ninth, fourteen and one-fourth length off the pace with a speed figure of ninety-seven. Look for the Australian chestnut to come out of the gate on Saturday near the lead if there should be a lack of pace in the race. If other horses show some speed out of the gate, look for him to be rated towards the middle of the pack.

3. Pro Groom Ted – (Monashee Mountain (IRE) x Mr. Prospector x Blushing Groom (FR)) – stakes – D. Ferguson – 11/1

Next as we go along the field of entries for the Panhandle Derby (G3) we have Pro Groom Ted, the three-year-old chestnut colt who is out of the stakes placed and two-time stakes producing mare Pro Groom. The chestnut colt will be led to the number three post to run for Stakes Stables. The colt has had a total of twenty-two lifetime starts so far with a total of $109,529 in career earnings. All of the colts races with the exception of five, have come over the turf track. The colts most recent start came in the Coalmine Mile Cup (G2) overseas in Victoria where he ran in fourth position for the majority of the race to finish ninth, ten and a half lengths off the pace with a speed figure of ninety-six. Despite starting his racing career over the dirt as a two-year-old, the three-year-old Monashee Mountain (IRE) colt finally switched tot he turf after making five starts over the dirt without securing a win. Since switching to the turf the colt has done very well at allowance level and listed stakes, but has thus far not been able to secure a win in a graded caliber stakes race. Look for the colt to be out of the gate towards the lead in the race and try to make a late drive in the stretch as he hits another gear coming towards the wire for home.

4. Ungroomed (IRE) – (Galileo (IRE) x Unbridled x Blushing Groom (FR)) – nofear – R. Maire – 23/1

Following down the line of entrants we go from Pro Groom Ted to Ungroomed (IRE) in gate four. The Irish-bred Ungroomed (IRE) will be racing under Willyam13 Stables. The three-year-old chestnut colt has been fairly lightly raced throughout his short racing career with only nine lifetime starts. These nine starts have earned the colt $142,422 in career earnings. The colts most recent race came over ten furlongs in an allowance caliber race in Kentucky where the colt managed to win by half a length with a speed figure of ninety-four. The colts single stakes start came in April of this year during the eleven furlong listed Royale With Cheese Double Derby Prep in which the colt finished twenty and a half lengths off the pace of the winner in seventh. Despite his poor finish in his only stakes start, his connections are giving the colt another shot in this weekend’s Panhandle Derby (G3) here in Florida. Look for the longshot colt to probably come out of the gate towards the lead or slightly rated back towards the middle of the field.

5.Northern Bay II – (North Light (IRE) x Giant’s Causeway (IRE) x Unbridled) – supapogs9 – L. Buchta – 6/1

Loading into the fifth post in the yellow, blue and purple silks of Pogo Racing we have Northern Bay II, a tall bay colt out of Kentucky. The three-year-old colt has been lightly raced with a total of ten lifetime starts. All of the colts starts have come over the turf. These ten starts have earned the bay colt $356,918 for his racing career to date. His most recent start was the Haw Haw Derby (G3), which he won convincingly by one and three-fourth lengths after running towards the middle of the pack early on in the race. The colts effort in the Haw Haw Derby (G3) lent the colt a speed figure of one hundred eleven. This came just after the colts start in the Boston Derby (G2) which he also won and secured a speed figure of one hundred ten in that race. The colt has been running some big races lately and may be one to keep an eye on this Saturday. The colt has finished out of the money only once during his career, this in the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Restricted (G1) where he finished eleventh. Look for him to be out of the gate and held off the pace towards the middle of the pack and to make a hard run just before the field goes into the stretch. The colt will be going off as one of two co-favorites in the Panhandle Derby (G3) this Saturday.

6. Rode Me Hard – (Rahy x Seeking The Gold x Fappiano) – 40oz – W. Case – 6/1

The other co-favorite in the race is Rode Me Hard, who will be wearing the dark orange and black silks of Team Doza Racing Stables. The chestnut colt has had a total of seventeen lifetime starts and has won career earnings of $276,450. The Kentucky-bred son of Rahy made his most recent start over eight and a half furlongs ind the listed Late Hill Special in North Dakota where the colt finished second in the race. He made a late charge for the wire in the race but came up just a little short to finish second by one-fourth of a length with a speed figure of one hundred three. The colts best race to date was perhaps the Bornwild II (IRE) Stakes over nine furlongs in South Carolina where the impressive three-year-old won by two and three-fourths lengths with a speed figure of one hundred thirteen. The colt has yet to put everything together in a graded race, his closest call coming in a fourth place finish on the dirt during the Chief Snow Handicap (G2). Bettors like his chances here in Florida for the Panhandle Derby (G3) however, so he may be one to take in interest in this weekend.

7. Franklin Terrace (IRE) – (Montjeu (IRE) x Fusaichi Pegasus x Saint Ballado) – stormcat55 – A. Darling – 11/1

Working our way towards the center of the track we have the Irish-bred brown colt, Franklin Terrace (IRE), who is out of the graded winning mare Rainah. The three-year-old Irish colt will be led towards gate seven on Saturday under the black and white silks of Foxon Stables. The colt has made nineteen lifetime starts which has earned him $406,275 in career earnings. The colts most recent start came over nine furlongs in the Cherry Limb Stakes (G2) where he just snuck in to finish in the money in fourth with a speed figure of one hundred six, a lifetime best speed figure for the colt. While the colt has finished in the money in several graded races, he has yet to put together a win against a graded field. The connections of the Montjeu (IRE) three-year-old are hoping that things will be different this weekend in the Panhandle Derby (G3). Look for the colt to probably be rated back off the pace towards the middle of the field out of the gate on Saturday.

8. Pleasant Emblem (JPN) – (War Emblem x Lemon Drop Kid x Hennessy) – koolaid – O. Barrett – 13/1

Again looking towards the middle of the track we have the Japanese-bred colt Pleasant Emblem (JPN) in the black and white silks of Legendary Stables. The chestnut colt is the only offspring out of the race winning mare Pleasant Lemessy. The three-year-old has made a total of seventeen lifetime starts, mostly on the turf, and has amassed total lifetime earnings of $46,590 in career earnings. The chestnut colt made his most recent start in the eight and half furlong listed Curious Groom Stakes in Ohio where he finished just out of the money in sixth place, nine and three-fourth lengths off the pace. The colt hasn’t had a win since January, this coming in a nine furlong allowance caliber race in which he won by half a length. The colts closest stakes win came in a photo finish where the colt placed placed second by a head in the Pearl Rick (IRE) Special over nine and a half furlongs. Despite beginning his early career on the dirt, he has been more successful over the turf. Look for the colt to be rated out of the gate, either towards the middle of the field or towards the pack, depending upon the pace of the other horses out of the gate.

9. Farewell O.C. – (A.P. Indy x Fusaichi Pegasus x Storm Cat) – theo2 – L. Gann – 20/1

Making our way slightly towards the grandstand side of the track we have Farewell O.C. who will be led into gate nine under The Newport Group. The brown colt has made fifteen lifetime starts, twelve of which have come over the turf. Of these fifteen career starts, the colt has earned a total of $113,682 in career earnings. His most recent start came during an eight and a half furlong allowance caliber race in California last September. The colt finished second in the race with a speed figure of one hundred, tying a lifetime best speed figure that he posted in his prior race, another eight and half furlong allowance caliber race. The colt hasn’t been successful at stakes level races so far in his career and he has never made a graded start until this Saturday in the Panhandle Derby (G3). But, even though the colt has some inexperience against tougher competition, he might be able to pull a big upset this weekend if he has his way.

10. Tajma Hall – (Lemon Drop Kid x Cozzene x Theatrical (IRE)) – fenceeater – D. Ellard – 13/1

Coming up next as we continue to go down the line is Tajma Hall, who will be under the red, black and white silks of Nagnagnag Stables, as the light gray colt is led into gate ten this Saturday. The Kentucky-bred three-year-old colt has made a total of twelve lifetime starts so far in his racing career, making the Panhandle Derby (G3) this Saturday the colts lucky thirteen start. So far, the colt has earned $148,192 in his racing career. The light gray colt made his most recent start in the ten furlong Saint Ledge Stakes (G3) where he finished eighth after a disappointing race, the colt fourteen and one-fourth lengths off the pace while setting a ninety-seven speed figure. Previous to this disappointment however, the colt won two consecutive races, both allowance caliber starts at nine and nine and a half furlongs respectively. Look for the colt to come out of the gate on Saturday and probably be held just off the pace towards the middle of the field.

11. I Don’t Give A Dan (ENG) – (Dansili (GB) x Nureyev x Sir Tristram (IRE)) – tyedye – R. Colette – 11/1

In the eleventh post we have the English-bred bay colt I Don’t Give A Dan (ENG), who will be wearing the black, orange and red silks of The Big Oil Conglomerate. The three-year-old son of Dansili (GB) is out of the race-winning mare Mine Metal. He has raced a lucky thirteen times, earning a total of $178,855 in career earnings for his efforts in these thirteen races. His most recent start was in the nine furlong Cherry Limb Stakes (G2) where the colt was beaten by a length to finish second with a speed figure of one hundred seven, a lifetime best speed figure for the brown colt. This race was preceded by another second place finish, this in a mile long allowance caliber race held overseas in Germany. The brown colt has only had one stakes start so far in his career. This start was the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Restricted (G1) where the colt finished far back, eighteen and one-half lengths off the pace to finish sixteenth in the race. Despite his poor finish in this race, the colt has improved in his last few starts and will make another start at a graded caliber race this weekend in the Panhandle Derby (G3).

12. Pasame La Botella (ENG) – (Librettist x Sunday Silence x Unfuwain) – victoria – E. Rickert – 9/1

Another English-bred horse will follow in the line up with Passame La Botella (ENG) taking the twelfth post in the race. The three-year-old brown colt is out of the mare Sunday Flight and will be entered in the Panhandle Derby (G3) this weekend under the Otto Haack stable group. The brown colt has a total of twelve lifetime starts, making this weekends start the thirteenth start for the colt who has made$117,790 in career earnings. The colts most recent start came in the eight furlong Jockey Club Classic (G2) which was held over the yielding turf in Sweden this past September. The colt finished third in this race, just four and one-fourth lengths off the pace as he posted a speed figure of one hundred four. A very impressive and lifetime best speed figure of one hundred ten preceded this during the eight furlong Springhill Horse Rescue Restricted (G1), but the colt only managed to finish sixth in this race despite the courageous effort and impressive speed figure the colt put into the race. Look for this colt to be held off the pace out of the gate in the race and probably settle down towards the middle of the field before making a late run down the stretch.

13. Words And Music – (Borrego x Storm Cat x Mr. Prospector) – estreet – S. Popo – 8/1

Nearing the grandstand now in lucky post thirteen we have a second roan colt in the race, Words And Music. The striking colt is out of the Grade 1 winning and multiple stakes-producing mare Organic Project, and will be going to the gate under Zman Stables. The three-year-old colt has made twenty lifetime starts and earned a total of $205,228 so far in his racing career. The colts most recent start came in the mile long Harry Carey Memorial Stakes (G3) where the colt took off on the lead out of the gate but faded to thirteenth in the race, finishing with a speed figure of ninety-eight. This start in the Harry Carey Memorial Stakes (G3) was the colts first graded start of his career, who was previously extremely successful at listed stakes level. Despite being worn down during the finish of his last race, he’s back again to try at another graded stakes this weekend. Expect this colt to come flying out of the gate and go to an uncontested early lead on the rest of the field, as he tires to carry out the lead wire to wire in the mile and one eighth Panhandle Derby (G3) this weekend.

14. Lexi’s Smile – (Include x Fusaichi Pegasus x Red Ransom) – claybornfa – N. Torres – 9/1

At the final and far outside grandstand side post we have the final entrant in this weekends Panhandle Derby (G3) in Lexi’s Smile, who is out of the graded-placed mare Winged Ransom. The three-year-old Kentucky-bred colt will be going to the far outside post in the black and blue silks of Slewsback Stables. The brown colt has acquired nineteen lifetime starts with $173,362 in career earnings for far for his racing career. The colt made his most recent start over eight furlongs this past September in the Mospe Cup (G1) overseas in New South Wales. The colt finished fifth in this race after setting just off the pace but loosing ground when it came down to the stretch. The brown colt set a speed figure of one hundred two for his efforts in this race. Like many of the other runners this weekend, Lexi’s Smile has never been able to put it completely together in a graded race, though coming relatively close in the Mospe Cup (G1) before falling back during the stretch. Look for the colt to be rated coming out of the gate towards the middle of the field or perhaps further back out of the traffic at the rear where he will try to take the tiring front runners by surprise in a late closing stretch drive.

Tellnotale’s Picks
Win: Northern Bay II
Place: Rode Me Hard
Show: Tajima Hall

Good luck to everyone with runners in the Panhandle Derby (G3) this weekend. This is Tellnotale signing off.