Tons Of Speed in $500,000 Jersey Derby
It could very well be crunch time for any Triple Crown hopefuls in the Jersey Derby here on Saturday.
This might be a great race for the few closers here in a 16-horse field loaded with speed.
The $500,000 Grade 1 mile and one-eighth event at Jersey Race Course could be the one last gasp for most of these to try and grab some desperately needed stakes points and ensure a starting gate spot in the Bluegrass Derby on the first Saturday in May.
And for others who are lightly raced late-bloomers who simply started their careers late last season, well, the Jersey Derby sponsored by latekick will be perhaps just a stepping stone to the second two jewels of the Triple Crown, or maybe just a chance to get some points on their resumes for the late season three year old classic races.
Either way, it’s going to be a great treat for New Jersey Race Course fans to have their first ever Grade 1 derby prep and a possible glimpse at a Bluegrass Derby winner or maybe even a Triple Crown winner.
Here is the field for the running of the inaugural Jersey Derby.
1- WHAT A GREELEY (KY) — (Mr. Greeley X Unbridled X What A Pleasure)
Owner: sjmeola — 8/1
This Kentucky-bred son of Mr. Greeley comes into New Jersey on quite a tear, having won four of his last five starts, including the biggest win of his career in the mile and three-sixteenths Tom E. Nearctic Route in Louisiana. That race, where he threw a 94 speed figure, probably encouraged owner sjmeola to keep this colt on a path for the Triple Crown races. Prior to that, his best speed figures came at mile distances, one a second place finish in the Whipped Ruler Stakes in Delaware. This colt can definitely get the nine furlongs on Saturday in New Jersey, that’s for sure. His speed figures aren’t quite what you’d like to see coming into a Grade 1 big money Bluegrass Derby prep, but remember this. WHAT A GREELEY only has 7 career starts, and he’s never finished worse than third in any of them. Might want to keep your eye on the son of Mr. Greeley on Saturday.
2 – K’S MOHIKAN ONLY (KY) — (Awesome Again X Seattle Slew X Northern Dancer)
Owner: bacchus — 13/1
K’S MOHIKAN ONLY raced exclusively on the turf in Dubai and Japan as a two year old, with a couple of firsts and two third place finishes. The son of Awesome Again was progressing nicely enough on that surface as far as speed figures go, but his trainer must have seen something that told him to put his colt on the dirt. In his final race in Japan, the first of his three year old campaign, he won after switching to the dirt. He then took off for Indonesia, where he raced, and won, at a mile for the first time. But more importantly, K’S MOHIKAN ONLY broke the 90 speed figure barrier in that race against a pretty nice field in a very high level allowance. His last two starts, though, against stakes company, K’S MOHIKAN ONLY took a step back when he moved up in distance, finishing third and fourth, respectively, in his first two tries. When he made his American debut at a mile and three-sixteenths in Kansas in the $30,000 Enough Come Dirt Stakes, he finished fourth but he threw his first 90+ speed figure. Now the son of Awesome Again, who shows a lot of early speed, is being brought back down in distance in this spot, which might be very much to his liking .
3 – QUICKZILLA (KY) — (Indian Charlie X Unbridled’s Song X Danzig)
Owner: robsscoobi — 13/1
This robscoobi-trained son of Indian Charlie is also lightly raced. He’s also facing stakes company for the first time here in New Jersey Saturday. His speed figures are pretty nice, considering his inexperience, and he comes in here on a three-win race streak. QUICKZILLA is full of early speed, like so many others in here. He didn’t debut until September 18 last season, and then he took a long break before he kicked off his three year old campaign with a win in a mile allowance race in North Carolina. He really stepped up his game a notch in his last start when he wired a field of seven in a mile and a sixteenth $46,000 allowance race in West Virginia. In fact, Godzilla has wired the field in all three of his wins coming in here to the Jersey Derby, so don’t be surprised at all if you see this Indian Charlie son set a fast tempo early on Saturday. He’ll try to play catch-me-if-you-can with this 16-horse field and wire this bunch too, and he might just do exactly that. If Quickzilla gets loose on the lead and too far ahead of this field, there’s no doubt this colt could take it wire to wire.
4- FORTY LOVE (GER) — (Monsun (GER) X Forty Niner X Blushing Groom)
Owner: lenny1 — 14/1
FORTY LOVE led for all three calls in his only stakes race of his career, before he just got headed by WHAT A GREELEY and TROYBUILT in the late stages of the Nearctic Dirt Route Stakes on March 19 in Louisiana. In fact, the son of Monsun has provided that type of early speed in six of his eight starts. What he hasn’t provided are speed figures over 100, but this is fairly typical of a lot of these in the Jersey Derby. He started off his career with a bang, winning three of his four career starts, but two of those were in six furlong events. There is little doubt that FORTY LOVE will be the rabbit they’ll all be trying to run down here Saturday in New Jersey. The only question mark for this colt is whether or not he can stay the distance. If his jockey can reel in some of FORTY LOVE’S early speed, he might just have some gas left in the tank when the horses hit the turn for home.
5 – DISTANT HORIZON (IL) — (Shore Breeze x Mine Shaft X Sadler’s Wells)
Owner: dixiedotc3 — 16/1
DISTANT HORIZON will step onto the New Jersey Race Course coming off the biggest speed figure (96) of his career. He ships in here off a first place finish in a mile and one-sixteenth allowance win in Rhode Island. He’s only had 8 races in his career, one on the turf that you can draw a line through. You can also draw a line through his only graded stakes try, the $400,00 Grade 1 Sparkling Wine Stakes in New York, where he ran into some monsters as a two year old and finished seventh, despite throwing an 86 speed figure. Outside of those two races, the Illinois-bred son of Shore Breeze has done nothing wrong, winning five of his six starts. This horse has been training up to this distance in his three year old starts. He could very well surprise this field of mostly lightly raced horses who really haven’t had many races over a mile. DISTANT HORIZON might be one to watch closely in this spot.
6 – PREDESTINATION (KY) — (Curlin X A.P. Indy X Storm Cat)
Owner: Delaware — 14/1
PREDESTINATION is a son of Curlin who’s got some extremely regal breeding back there in A.P. Indy and Storm Cat. It’s a pity this horse didn’t debut until November of last season, though. He’s only got four races, but despite being lightly raced and inexperienced compared to most of these, his speed figures really aren’t that bad. He debuted at a mile and threw in a third place finish. After that, he saw a nine point jump in his speed figures to 91 in his maiden win, a nine furlong race in Florida. PREDESTINATION then headed to Louisiana to score another impressive win in a $35,000 allowance race before he took on stakes company for the first time. He came from way back in the $35,000 Swampy Honor Dirt Route to finish a decent third, and he threw a 90 speed figure in that race. But on Saturday, he’s racing with colts who are much more seasoned than he is, so he might be in a little over his head with most of these. This isn’t a really strong field, but this son of Curlin might need a little more seasoning.
7 – SPINNING EMPIRE (KY) — (Empire Maker X Spinning World X Danehill)
Owner: koalaking — 15/1
SPINNING EMPIRE is one of the more heavily raced colts here in the Jersey Derby. He’s already raced three times as a three year old, which doesn’t seem like much, but then again, he took a long break since his Christmas Day allowance win in the Czech Republic. It took SPINNING EMPIRE five tries to break his maiden, and it’s been sort of a pedal-to-the-metal deal with SPINNING EMPIRE’s career, as he’s desperately trying to get stakes points for the Triple Crown. A win here in the Jersey Derby could be just what the doctor ordered for this son of Empire Maker. Despite this start in the Jersey Derby being his third in just over four weeks, his speed figures have continued to rise, from 86 to 91 to 93. SPINNING EMPIRE comes in here off a fifth place finish in the Princess’ Ballot Route Stakes in Kentucky in his last start on March 19. SPINNING EMPIRE could be another one who is a factor here in the Jersey Derby, although three races in just over a month could take its toll on this son of Empire Maker.
8 – DISTORTED GIANT (KY) — (Giant’s Causeway (IRE) X Distorted Humor X Seattle Slew)
Owner: marsattack 12/1
DISTORTED GIANT started his career off inauspiciously on the turf in a six furlong $50,000 MSW, where he finished sixth. When his owner switched him to the dirt, this son of Giant’s Causeway woke up and started throwing some pretty fast speed figures. He won some mid to upper level allowance races overseas, and then he scored a win in The Upper Management Level Stakes in Hong Kong over a mile—his first stakes try. In fact, his only two stakes tries came as a two year old, including a ninth place finish in the Grade 3 Nashua Special Stakes in his American debut. Like FORTY LOVE, DISTORTED GIANT has tons of early speed. But he’s never been over a mile and a sixteenth in his career. He’s certainly maturing at the right time, throwing the highest speed figure of his career (98) in a second place finish in a Nebraska allowance. Distance is the big bugaboo for Distorted Giant. Can he go longer and be effective in the Jersey Derby? His owner will find out Saturday. You never know. Sometimes these three year olds can really jump up and blossom quickly, and DISTORTED GIANT certainly has the pedigree to do it.
9 – TO THE METAL (KY) — (Rock Hard Ten X Storm Cat X Gone West)
Owner: lenny3 — 11/1
TO THE METAL is making his sixth career start. The Rock Hard Ten progeny has never gone farther than a mile (and then only once) in his career, but he comes in here on a four race win streak. In his last three wins, all sprints, he’s improving his speed figures markedly, but it’s asking a lot to bring TO THE METAL up from three consecutive sprints, albeit long sprints, to a distance of 9 furlongs, particularly in a Grade 1 race. Not the strongest Grade 1 race around, but still, this is a huge jump in distance for this colt. He’s 6-4-1-0, but he’s only got a little over $64,000 in the bank to date. He’s won a stakes race, his only stakes race, but it was a $10,000 purse in his last outing. It’s hard to tell what this son of Rock Hard Ten will do when brought up this much in distance. He should provide more front end speed here in New Jersey, but can he last with this bunch? That’s the burning question for TO THE METAL.
10 – SICKO’S SONG (KY) — (Unbridled’s Song X Seattle Slew X Alydar)
Owner: sicko — 12/1
This colt’s blood most definitely runs blue, as in royal blue. He was brilliant as a two year old, when he racked up three of his four career wins. SICKO’S SONG didn’t throw monster speed figures as a two year old, but he won, and he did it consistently. He’s only raced twice as a three year old. But his speed figures have skyrocketed in both of those starts, an allowance win in New York, where he broke the 100 speed figure barrier for the only time. In his other three year old starts, he led for much of the way in the prestigious Grade 3 Buccaneer Derby before fading to fourth in the stretch, despite throwing a 95 speed figure. This will be his shortest break between races when he takes the track in the Jersey Derby. SICKO’S SONG’s races have been spaced pretty widely apart, and he’s been managed spectacularly. That’s probably why his speed figures as a three year old have shown such a tremendous improvement over his two year old numbers. This colt could definitely be dangerous in this spot.
11 – POWERFUL MOVER (KY) — (Eddington X Mr. Leader X Storm Cat) FILLY
Owner: graywolf32 — 12/1
Here’s a very nice Eddington filly who also heads east from California to try to take on the boys in the Jersey Derby. POWERFUL MOVER won over $91,000 in eight career starts, and in her last two races, she finally broke the 90 speed figure barrier. Two races ago she finished second in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes to TEX TORNADO (a $600,000-plus earner who’s won six of her nine races). POWERFUL MOVER was extremely impressive in that seven and a half furlong spot. In POWERFUL MOVER’S last outing, she was seventh, but she still threw a 91 number in the Grade 1 California Oaks. Look at her last four races. She’s had a rather strange racing schedule which saw her race back to back weeks. When she comes off a rest, she does really, as she did in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes. Now she comes in here to New Jersey off a five week break after racing back to back weeks, and she might just throw a surprise at the boys here on Saturday.
12 – STRIKES AGAIN (KY) — (Awesome Again X Smart Strike X Seattle Slew)
Owner: goldsmith — 11/1
You certainly cannot accuse STRIKES AGAIN’s owner of ducking the big races. Of the nine starts by this son of Awesome Again, only one has not been a stakes race. You read it right. Only one non-stakes race on this colt’s resume. That probably explains why this colt has nearly $170,000 in earnings in his brief career. In fact, Strikes Again broke his maiden in a stakes race, the six furlong $75,000 Frostgang Cap in Puerto Rico. He was spectacular in the last start of his two year old career, a win in the mile and sixteenth $125,000 Comedy Central Juvenile. But as a three year old, he had only two starts, both disappointing finishes in some major league derby preps, the Grade 3 Risen Star and the Grade 1 Florida Derby, a win-and-you’re-in derby lock prep. This colt certainly is stakes-seasoned, and he will almost certainly need at least a top three finish here in the Grade 1 Jersey Derby, if he’s to have any hope of running in any of the three jewels of the Triple Crown. The feeling here is that colt can step up and do it in this spot, if stakes experience counts for anything. You might want to watch this one, despite a slight dip in his speed figures in his last outing in Florida. Pretty classy colt here, maybe one who will wake up in this spot and surprise them all.
13 – PARR T TIME (FL) — (Benny The Bull X Empire Maker X Sadler’s Wells)
Owner: parrsbest — 20/1
PARR T TIME is really more of a sprinter type, who’s raced almost exclusively in the sprints, except for his last start. After all, his sire is Benny The Bull. Owner parrsbest has been doing well with PARR T TIME in the sprints, but last time out he took his colt to Minnesota for the one mile St. Bohaven’s Stakes on a track that came up sloppy the day of the race. And the son of Benny The Bull pulled his fastest career speed figure ever (93), despite finishing third. Maybe he liked the sloppy track that day. Who knows? But the chances are slim and none that PARR T TIME will catch a bad track here Saturday in New Jersey. If nothing else, PARR T TIME should provide some more early speed in a Jersey Derby that is already full of front end speed. It might be a bit much to ask of PARR T TIME to run with some of these well-bred router pedigrees in a Grade 1 nine furlong stakes.
14 – SEA ISLE CITY (KY) — (Candy Ride (ARG) X Seattle Slew X Gone West)
Owner: latekick — 7/1
If the horses-for-courses handicapping angle holds true, keep your eye on Sea Isle City. New Jersey fans certainly know this name. The Argentinian-bred son of Candy Ride has run all six of his races here at New Jersey Race Course and will undoubtedly be a crowd favorite here when the field in the Jersey Derby goes to post. He got an extremely late start as a two year old, not debuting until September 11 last year. The son of Candy Ride has thrown speed figures in the 90’s for four of his six races, and he’s garnered nearly $300,000 in wins. This colt has won or placed in five of his six starts. He jumped up and surprised more than a few in his last outing. He dueled early on the lead before just being nipped at the wire by 23-1 longshot JERSEY ACT in the Grade 3 Tin Man. Sea Isle City wasn’t exactly the favorite either in that race when the crowd sent him off at 11-1. Like DISTORTED GIANT, he too threw the highest speed figure of his career (105) to date. The Candy Ride son has not raced over a mile yet, though. In fact, the Tin Man Stakes was the only time in his brief career that he’s stepped outside the sprints. So he’s got question marks when it comes to distance, especially with the huge jump up in distance he’ll see on Saturday.
15 – SEEK IRISH ROOTS (CAN) — (Seeking the Best (IRE) X Montjeu (IRE) X The Minstrel)
Owner: danscand — 5/1
This globetrotting son of Seeking The Best has taken a very unusual route to try to get to the three jewels of the Triple Crown . Only two of his 11 starts have come on American soil. A win in the $100,00 Grade 3 The Scam Stakes in California make up quite of bit of this colt’s $162,000 in earnings. He beat quite a few of these he’ll be seeing on Saturday in the Scam Stakes. He ran a pretty respectable fifth against some monsters in the Grade 1 Sand Castle Derby in Dubai in his last outing. And now SEEK IRISH ROOTS returns to America, only to find himself the favorite here on Saturday. He has shown he can get the nine furlongs that will be required of him in New Jersey, with his last five starts all over a mile. The colt for the danscand barn should love this distance here on Saturday. This looks like the one in the Jersey Derby.
16 – BLUSHING INDY (KY) — (Awesome Again X A.P. Indy X Kris S.)
Owner: blankpoin3 — 25/1
In his only two stakes tries, BLUSHING INDY has been pretty badly beaten in California. Now he’ll head east for the first time in his career, but it’s hard to say if the outcome is going to be much different for this son of Awesome Again. BLUSHING INDY finished 24 lengths behind the winner in the Grade 3 Scam and 12 lengths back in the Upper State Juvenile. The West coast hasn’t been kind to this colt. So east he goes, to see if he can fare better against this bunch. It’ll be tough. He just doesn’t have the speed figures to fit with this bunch. He did throw a 92 three races back in a second place finish way back in a December allowance. That’s his best effort to date, numbers-wise, in eight career starts. It would take a huge improvement for BLUSHING INDY to stay with this group.