Sophomores Set to Run Wicked Hard in $400,000 Turf Chase
In the Spring of 2000, management of Massachusetts Race Track was ready to stage a new event, the Boston Derby, to be run on Massachusetts’ renovated turf course. Set to be an instant hit, the Derby had secured a celebrity spokesman in Red Sox second baseman Jose Offerman, who hit .255 that year with 9 home runs, and there was great enthusiasm about the idea of pursuing three year-olds who wanted to look toward the turf after a hard Triple Crown campaign. Everything was in place for a late summer festival in Massachusetts.
But not all was right. Massachusetts politicians were feeling the heat to come up with another $7 trillion to fund Phase Fourteen of The Big Dig – the infamous money pit that revolutionized travel through downtown Boston’s “Central Artery” (I-93) and they weren’t too keen on allowing a race track to funnel money into stakes purses likely to head out of town. Word out of the statehouse was that purses were going to be slashed dramatically for the fall meeting of the Boston Derby took place.
At the last minute, Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) came to the rescue. He brokered a deal with Maryland Lt. Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, his niece, to move the race to the Old Line State. Maryland Gov. Parris Glendening was opposed to the move, likely because he spent eight years watching Maryland’s grand racing tradition be eaten away at by upstart racino jurisdictions like Delaware and West Virginia, but ultimately buckled. The Boston Derby was on. In Baltimore.
Run as a Grade II event with a $300,000 purse from 2000 to 2008, the Boston Derby was a minor hit on the Maryland circuit. But the Maryland government was having financial troubles which, coupled with a bizarre earthquake that struck the Baltimore area just two weeks before the 2009 running, once against jeopardized the event. But patrons of the Boston Derby were undeterred. They were sworn to find a location that would not be marred by the risk of state government bankruptcy or earthquakes that could host the event.
Enter California. The Boston Derby moved there in 2009, and the event turns the California Race Track into a freakshow that stands out even in wacky SoCal. This Saturday, on a hot September afternoon, patrons will eat steaming clam chowder and, if recent history is a guide, break out a “Jeter sucks!” chant every hour on the hour. Everyone gets into the spirit – even Lakers’ fans. The Grade II event, run at 1 1/8 miles on the turf, is a uniquely American experience. The field:
#1 Rainy Sunday 3-1 (Raven’s Pass) will be sent from his rail post. He just annexed a listed event at this distance in devastating fashion (wire to wire, SP 112). I’m willing to forgive his one try against graded company as he was outclassed and outdistanced in the Japanese Derby at 12 furlongs. The fact that he beat three rivals there is probably reason for optimism. Dam Rainah (Fusaichi Pegasus) won 13 stakes races and nearly $800k… Rainy Sunday is one of four stakes winners out of Rainah, including winner of $779k Franklin Terrace (Montjeu).
#2 Green Trees 3-1 (Dansili) won the G3 Movie Cup here at this distance two back, his second win at today’s distance, with a 114 SP. He’s well drawn here, right outside of the speed, and will get a stalking trip. Gossett (27% wins) is up and this one looks live.
#3 Puzzlement 9/2 (Conduit) is a deep closer who specializes at this exact trip. He’s 3-for-4 at 1 1/8m, including two minor stakes wins. His one graded try resulted in a 5 SP – who knows what went wrong that day – which offers little insight into his ability. SPs of 111 and 107 in his last two are very promising. Will be flying late.
#4 Award Jarmo 6-1 (Daiwa Major) is the outsider in here; has only topped SP 100 once and that was in a fourth place finish in a minor stakes at this distance. A small share is his ceiling.
#5 Vuvuzela 2-1 (Montjeu) is drawing all the buzz and is the morning line favorite. Was devastating in beating older rivals in the Fivestarnick (G2) at 1 1/16m (SP 113) and came from far back to be a good fourth in the G1 Jean Brat prior to that. Never tried this distance before but his style (and pedigree) certainly indicate he’ll relish the extra grass.
#6 Unsilent Killer 5-1 (A.P. Indy) is a midpack grinder who has run three straight SPs in the 100-102 range at distances from one mile to 1 1/4m. That seems a bit light here but this colt could certainly improve in only his ninth career start.
Selections:
I rarely play chalk but I think that Vuvuzela has class coming out of his ears and could gallop here. Green Trees should rate a perfect trip. Puzzlement will be running late.