Topicount hits Derby trail with NEVER QUIT
By ITCH
Topicount has a serious contender for the 2009 Bluegrass Derby.
It’s NEVER QUIT, a chesnut son of the Sadler’s Wells sire Refuse to Bend, who made a massive move in the Grade 2 Fountain of Ute on Saturday and announced himself as a very possible Triple Crown contender.
Never Quit broke sixth from way out in post 13, relaxed early behind a pace set by Pointblank‘s DESTINY’S GONE. Early in the Ute, all of the top-rated colts were up toward the front. Breeders Bowl Juvenile champion TIZ SMOKIN NOW was a pressing third. It wasn’t long, though, before it quickly became evident that the front end was no place to be in the Ute.
With still half a mile to go, one was reminded of that old racetrack refrain, “Here they all come!”
A number of horses broke, none so fast as Never Quit, who assumed control of the race with still three furlongs to run. He bounded along on a clear lead in the lane, having made the decisive move of the race and continuing about on his business. This was such a huge race for Never Quit on so many fronts. He rose to No. 7 in the divisional rankings, became a multiple graded winner and ran the first triple-digit speed figure of his life, a 102.
Don’t look now, but the Evil Empire may have a Derby horse coming out of the Ute, as well. Lenny’s SAMSTAG was not as impressive as Never Quit, of course, and will have a lot of running to do to catch that one should they meet again. (In the Florida Derby, perhaps?) However, Samstag ran a good one in only his fifth career start and beat a lot of good horses to be second. This horse has an impressive-looking pp history and looks like the goods.
As mentioned, a lot of good horses were badly beaten in the Ute. Tiz Smokin Now was in the wrong place at the wrong time pacewise, and, despite his seventh-place finish, probably remains on the Derby trail. (You can beat Metallinut would like to see him get back to his former self in his next start, though). While Tiz Smokin Now may keep his Derby aspirations, the same may not be true for Destiny’s Gone or XTRA TALES, who collapsed badly in the Ute.
Finally, a word for the show horse, SCAT BRUSH. How about that graywolf getting up for third with the longshot? Nice.