Elite Racing Club sends thirteen to the post in the prestigious ERC Kentucky Derby

Kentucky (KY) Saturday, May 3, 2025 — 1:55:00 PM EST | Race ID : 3526656
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E R C KENTUCKY DERBY
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Stakes – Sponsored – Purse : $100,000 – 3 Year Olds – Owner Restricted
10 Furlongs | ~2000 Meters | One Mile and One Quarter | Fast Dirt

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The ELITE RACING CLUB holds its version of the “fastest two minutes in sports”, the ERC Kentucky Derby this Saturday afternoon. Held at virtual Churchill Downs, a field of 13 club sophomore runners will compete at the classic 10 furlongs (or a mile and a quarter or ~2000 meters) distance. They will be facing off for the winner’s share of the $100,000 purse on tap, and for the club bonus points that will crown the 2025 club trainer championship. We have a trio of upset minded fillies in the mix, along with quintets of both geldings and colts.
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The list of prior winners starts with 2024 victor YOU GET QUALITY from the harrylan stable, making harrylan a four time winner; his TAPIT GATEWAY got the prize in the 2023 renewal. Dontbetonme’s third winner, GONE TO CAIRO was best in 2022, a year after amir1605’s DRAGON PHOENIX got the money in 2021. Dontbetonme also took the 2020 edition with QUALIFIER; UNION SPORTS from the summerset barn took the 2019 renewal; 2018 saw harrylan’s filly TAPIT STREET come home in front, while dontbetonme’s ROBERTO CAERLEON was the 2017 victor. Harrylan’s DANZIG FORTY romped in the 2016 event, and amir’s DANZIG STREET took the inaugural honors in 2015.
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It appears that we have a very closely matched field going to the post; the handicapper had a hell of time separating them with six contenders listed at 6/1, 7/1, or 8/1. Four more entrants were held at 10/1 or 11/1. It looks like we’re gonna have a real humdinger of a finish. Let’e take a closer look at the past performances in entry point order and see if the numbers can lead us to a possible winner.
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pp.4…..7/1
CHARGED FOR A DAY…………….KY……..3G……..claimerz2024
KNICKS GO x TAKE CHARGE INDY x DANZIG out of SD SUPER CHARGERS
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Long legged, light grey gelding seeks a fourth straight score after winning the Princess Ballot listed stakes at 8.5 furlongs, pounding a 100 SP# in just getting up at the wire in a blanket finish. In his prior outing he romped home in a facile victory in a NW3L allowance, also at 8.5 panels, punching a 99 SP# from the middle of the pack. One back of that he took a NW2L allowance, again at 8.5 furlongs, popping a 99 SP# in a stalking trip. Summerset trainee is in fine form; the extra distance seems to be the only concern with this guys chances, but they all face that hurdle. Owns a pair of route wins over this oval.
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pp.12…..6/1
NOW RIDING AROUND…………..KY…….3M……..harrylanst
CANDY RIDE x DISTORTED HUMOR x A.P. INDY by he-mare NOW RUNNING AROUND
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Bruising brown colt closed with a rush to get 5th, beaten just 2 lengths in the G2 Fountain Of Ute at a mile and an eighth, smacking a 100 SP# with a big run from last of fourteen. One race before that he ran a virtually identical effort in the Wizard Of Winter listed stakes at 8.5 furlongs, getting 2nd best, moving from last of a full field, stashing a 97 SP#. He won his previous try in a NW2L allowance at a mile and a sixteenth, running off to an easy win for a 95 SP# against seven outclassed foes. Harrylan protege always finishes fast; extra distance can only help as harrylan shoots for his 5th ERC Ky Derby victory and 3rd in a row.
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pp.1…..8/1
GIVES A POUNDING…………….SKOR…..3M……..mummerdowns
CONCERT TOUR x TAPIZAR x PIONEEROF THE NILE out of ZARBETAH
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Demolished a NW4x allowance at 9.5 furlongs in first try after being claimed for $150,000, running off to a 14 length win in a four horse affair, zinging a 98 SP# for his third straight win. Burly bay colt got the money one back of that in that $150k claimer at 8.25 panels, zipping a 92 SP# and changing barns. In his prior try he took an open allowance at 8.5 furlongs, zapping a 94 SP# in another four horse field. Runner from the newfydowns racing outfit has winning ways, (has won 7 of 8 starts on dirt surfaces) and the distance may prove to not be a problem. Could be right there on top try.
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pp.10…..8/1
CANDYCOOKIE …………………….KY……….3F……… chino6
CANDY RIDE x FORESTRY x STORM BIRD
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The first of our distaff entries is this beautiful bay filly, who won the D Lion Sleeps listed stakes at three quarters of a mile in her most recent try, sticking an 89 SP# against four of her own kind. She was 2nd best one back of that in the Blackflys Seeker listed stakes at 7.5 furlongs, slashing a 96 SP# in an even trip. Her previous start was a win at a mile in a NW3x allowance, slinging a 93 SP# in a five horse heat. Runner from the chino barn has never gone beyond a mile, faces tough task against males at this distance.
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pp.7…..7/1
TEJ……………………………………. KY…….. 3M……..ric480c
MEDAGLIA D’ORO x FORTY NINER x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY
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Your humble correspondent gets in on the action with this stretch running, boisterous brown colt, who exits a 6th place finish in the Otto Causes listed stakes at a mile and an eighth, banging a 97 SP# in a middle of the pack trip. He won his previous outing in an open allowance, also at 9 panels, blasting a 98 SP# in a five horse affair. One before that he was a fast closing 3rd in a NW3L allowance at 8.5 furlongs, bashing a 98 SP# in a last to first performance. Ric480 runner appears to be ready for the extra distance here; one of many with a win at 9 furlongs or longer, here’s hoping he’s motoring late down the straight.
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pp.13…..11/1
THOUGHT PROCESSES……………KY………3G……..amir1610
FED BIZ x BLUEGRASS CAT x EL PRADO out of NOVUM EBORACUM
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Lanky, light grey gelding is a last minute entry. His three year old debut was an impressive 2nd in a NW3L allowance at nine and a half furlongs off a four month layoff, whacking a 100 SP# chasing a runaway winner. He ended his 2024 campaign with an OK 3rd in The ERC Dirt Hopers stakes at 8.5 panels, winging a 90 SP# in a middle of the pack run. His previous start was a fast closing 4th in the G2 KeggerDay Juvenile Mile at – yep, you guessed it, at a mile (or 8 furlongs or ~2000 meters), wrangling a 91 SP#. Amir1605 trainee could bounce off season opener, or could be a formidable foe if he moves forward off that.
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pp.5….16/1
ECHO AGAIN……………………….KY…….. 3G……..dunnvilledowns
ROCK YOUR WORLD x AWESOME AGAIN x STREET CRY out of DIAMANTINE
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Bucking bay gelding tuned up for this with a score in a NW1x allowance at a mile, crushing a 95 SP# in a five horse affair. He was a fast closing 6th in a Twitch allowance at a mile and an eighth one before that in his 2025 debut, cashing a 90 SP# from way back in the pack. In his prior outing he got his first win in an open maiden allowance at 8 furlongs, copping an 88 SP# with a nice late move to get the money. Runner from the dunnvilledowns racing group steps up in class here; appears that the extra distance may not be a detriment, but others look tougher in this heat.
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pp.11…..10/1
DEVILSGOINGDOWN…………….KY…….. 3M……..newnewfydowns
ARABIAN LION x PIONEEROF THE NILE x DEPUTY MINISTER out of NILE MINISTRY
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Chiseled chestnut colt seeks a seventh consecutive victory, after winning his first start for his new stable off a $50,000 claim, taking an open allowance at 9.5 furlongs, slashing a 95 SP# on a “good dirt”surface. In his prior try he romped home in that $50,000 claimer, sticking an 89 SP# pressing the early pace. One before that he cruised home in front on a sloppy dirt track, stashing a 93 SP#. Runner from the newfydowns racing outfit has faced just three foes in each of his last six wins; goes against a dozen opponents here – has winning ways but will need to significantly step up his game to handle these.
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pp.6…..8/1
DIVINE LIGHT……………………..KY………3F……..amir1636
CITY OF LIGHT x DEEP IMPACT x SMART STRIKE out of he-mare RENTING TO OWN
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The second of our female entries is this blushing bay filly who showed tremendous late foot getting 2nd in a local bred allowance at a mile and three-sixteenths, drilling a 97 SP# from ay back in the pack. One back of that she was 2nd best in the Churchill Princess listed stakes at 7 panels, dropping a 90 SP# over an off track. One before that she was – you guessed it – 2nd best in the Arrogance listed stakes at 7.5 furlongs, drawing a 90 SP# with a nice late rally. Amir1605 protege may have flashed an affinity for longer distances; still will need top effort to hit the board with this group.
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pp.3…..18/1
ECHO GIVEN GURU…………….. CAN……..3F……..survivoreh
AMERICAN GURU x DISTORTED HUMOR x A.P. INDY out of VAES DOTHRAK
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Our third lady, a bodacious bay filly, has come down with a case of “seconditis”, as she has been second five times in seven starts. Last out she showed good late foot in a NW2L allowance at 9.5 furlongs, settling for 3rd with a 96 SP#. In her previous run she was 2nd in a local bred allowance at seven panels, flinging a 90 SP# in a four horse heat. She got her only win one back of that in an open maiden at seven-eighths of a mile, flashing an 85 SP# chasing down a on the loose pace setter. Cutie from the dunnvilledowns racing barn is on the improve, but this is a tough group of males to face in her stakes debut.
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pp.9…..10/1
AGGRESSIVE MAGIC………………KY……..3M……..harrylan22
GOOD MAGIC x AWESOME AGAIN x STORM CAT out of AGGRESSIVE STEPS
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Commanding chestnut colt got his initial win returning to the races off a five month layoff, taking an open maiden at a mile and an eighth, nailing a 101 SP# from the middle of the pack. One before that he got up for 2nd in an open maiden at 8.5 panels, notching an 88 SP# with a nice middle move. In his previous outing he settled for 2nd best in an open maiden at a mile, nabbing an 87 SP# from mid-pack. Runner from the harrylan racing empire could bounce big time off huge effort in return, or could blow this field out of the water with usual improvement; very dangerous.
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pp.2…..10/1
MAGESTIC CRUZE………………… KY…….. 3G……..razer2024
MAGE x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY x FORTY NINER out of CRUZIN SMOOTH
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Gleaming chestnut gelding finally broke his maiden in his eighth start, winning an open maiden at a mile and three-sixteenths, getting up late for the money, rocking a 99 SP# from the middle of the pack. One back of that he was an even 4th in an open maiden at 9 furlongs, ripping a 90 SP# in a mid pack effort. In his previous engagement he was a closing 3rd in an open maiden at 8.5 panels, racking up an 89 SP# in his 2024 finale. Summerset trainee improved big time in latest – eligible to surprise just like his daddy did not so long ago.
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pp.8….12/1
DEADLY FUNGUS…………………..KY……..3G……….jbcri31
JACKIE’S WARRIOR x MORE THAN READY x SEATTLE SLEW out of WICKED SURPRISE
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Burly bay gelding just failed to hold on when 2nd in his latest attempt at breaking his maiden, setting all the pace in a $150,000 maiden claimer at 8.5 furl;ongs, catching a 92 SP# in his 9th start. This fellow has run eight times at virtual Churchill; two back he was a fading 6th in an open maiden, also at 8.5 panels, copping a 93 SP# prompting the opening fractions. In his previous effort he tired to 5th in an open maiden at a mile, casting an 87 SP# after an early pace duel. Runner from the jbcri09 racing stable is unlikely to like this distance, will be close early but will find it very tough to hold off the more talented runners in this event.
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Good luck everybody, and may they all come home fast, safe and sound.
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PS: Best wishes to amir as his Flying Medium competes in the big one – the Bluegrass Derby. As a matter of fact, he also has Infernal Ghost in the Bluegrass Oaks – would be quite the feat to notch them both ! Good luck amir !