Bluegrass Derby Trail: New Mexico
New Mexico– A rollicking group of nine sophomores led by last year’s Darling Squash Futurity(G2) victor Kat Call (7/2) go a flat mile over the main track. The $40k purse is named after the “King of the Classics”: Stormy Prospector, Hall Of Fame hero of the Breeders Bowl and Sand Castle Classics (click here to read about this great champion’s career!).
Kat Call(KY) makes his 3yo seasonal debut. The Supers guided the blue-blooded Street Cry son to a pair of graded stakes scores last season. Kat Call sprinted to victory in the Closest Friend(G3) last August and promptly followed that up with another nailbiting win in the Darling Squash over 8.5 furlongs. Notably however, the colt did not race in the Breeders Bowl. The Supers gave Kat Call two months off before a late November return to the races. Kat Call though was unplaced in the Arizona Diamond(G1) and managed a 2nd-place listed effort in his final freshman start. The frontrunner should be majorly fresh after a six-week breather.
Rcdlogan however has an excellent candidate to play the spoiler. Wild Eddi(KY) (4/1) boasts a resume that you just love to see. The Eddington son went 2 for 4 as a 2yo, breaking his maiden on the second try and finishing the year with a short field listed stakes triumph. But the closer ran positively sensational last month in his 3yo debut — Wild Eddi came flying from the back of the pack, making up a ton of ground over 7.5f to snatch a photo finish stakes win at Minnesota. The 99 SP# (up from previous 90) sure signals that this colt may indeed be special. I love to see that speed figure progression. The closer’s not gonna win all the time, but when he gets his pace scenario up front, look out! Very nice colt in first try at a mile.
Epcotlen from Ohio Thoroughbred Racing gets in on the action with Fathers Joy(KY) (5/1). By Fusaichi Pegasus, Father Joy took his merry old time breaking his maiden last year for Epcotlen. Despite debuting in March 2008, the colt kept hitting the board for his trainer through eight starts, before finally finding the winner’s circle in December. Must’ve been very frustrating! LOL. Good news though in 2009 — Fathers Joy beat a full field of ALW NW2Lers over 8.5f with a 95 SP#. Fathers Joy makes his black type debut Saturday as a proven two-turner.
On the far outside post, Hooah(KY) (6/1) aims for the lead. Geoff (Galileo) from Blazing Saddles trains the Street Cry runner. Hooah was another early foal last year, breaking his maiden at first asking back in March. The colt then got walloped at the stakes level and spent the rest of the season at the ALW level. Modest times so far for Hooah, but the colt has plenty two-turns experience. Saturday will be his 5th start at a mile or more and he dispatched a NW2L last time out with a nice 91 SP#. Boy, is he bred for the grass with Dynaformer as dam-sire though….. hmm. =)
Thornton Mellon(KY) (7/1) was 4th to Kat Call in the Darling Squash last year. Dolphinman guided the Cat Thief colt on a vigrous freshman schedule. The colt handled the listed stakes level with superb ease, winning near each time out at the level. However, Thornton Mellon just couldn’t transcend to the grades, managing only minor cheques at best. Graded ignominy piled on when the poor little guy was pulled up in December’s Pleasure Stakes(G3). Thornton Mellon finished 5 for 11 on the year, with a highest SP# of 95 in a winning effort over 8.5 panels. His black type experince must be respected.
Marmac’s Eyedominator(IRE) (7/1) also had trouble at the graded level. The Galileo son took a beating in Distorted Dragon’s Movieland Futurity(G1). The colt broke his maiden early on over the grass, then saw his numbers climb a bit to the 80 SP# mark when switched to the dirt. The speedster needs to break through the 90 barrier if he’s gonna make any kind of progress in this field. I think he should be at a bit longer odds than just 7/1.
Mmmkay(CAN) (7/1) won 2 out of 3 GR Simsters Canada Invasion Series races for trainer Asoiaf2. The Tomahawk colt finished up the season afterwards with a decent runnerup spot when testing listed stakes company. I like how this midpacker kept on improving when stretched out to a mile. He gained ground on the leader in his last start. Six weeks rest sees Mmmkay fresh. Whaddya say, Mister Hat? Oh mmmkay, great shot, yeah! 😉
A couple of longshots round out our field. French Reward(KY) (9/1) pocketed some honest cheques for french08 stable last season. The Good Reward youngster was stakes-placed a few times over both surfaces. The speedster has yet to break out of the 80 SP# mold though. He’ll need to put it all together in order to snatch the lion’s share (or even kitten’s share) Saturday.
Racetrader’s Digital Fairy(JPN) (11/1) finished a decent 3rd in his main track and lifetime debut in December. The Agnes Digital son already has two starts as a 3yo — both turf races where he won a MSW, then finished up the track when asked to leap to the stakes level. This colt has a nice turfy pedigree with Sir Tristram and Fairy King. The winner of the Louisiana stakes won in 1:35 1/5, a pretty fast time for the sophomores. Additionally, this will be Digital Fairy’s 3rd start in 4 weeks. I’d put this colt back on the grass in the ALW ranks — you can try dirt again too there. Take your time — give him a shot to develop. I love his pedigree!
Analysis: This is Kat Call’s race to lose. He’s the classiest of the bunch. Thornton Mellon is an interesting mid-range shot with lots of black type experience. Mmmkay should improve as well off of his last. Hooah might grab a minor cheque. Fathers Joy is inconsistent, but on an upswing of late, so I’d keep him in mind for your exotics. Eyedominator, French Reward, and Digital Fairy all look outclassed at this point.
But I love Wild Eddi for the winner’s circle. We’ll see if he’ll be going places after Saturday. Kat Call just misses the win with Thornton Mellon up for the show spot. Good luck everyone!