{"id":35663,"date":"2016-04-08T12:32:50","date_gmt":"2016-04-08T16:32:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blacktypebugler.com\/?p=35663"},"modified":"2016-04-08T12:42:35","modified_gmt":"2016-04-08T16:42:35","slug":"g1-corkscrew-lightning-strife-double-dissolution-awesome-kingmambo-headline-derby-lock-field","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/?p=35663","title":{"rendered":"G1 Corkscrew: Lightning Strife, Double Dissolution, Awesome Kingmambo Headline Derby Lock Field"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many places this weekend will claim to be the beginning of the road to the Bluegrass Derby, but the shortest trip to Kentucky is from Kentucky itself.\u00a0 The Grade I Corkscrew Stakes<\/i> here in Kentucky goes off around 3 PM ET on Saturday afternoon, and the winner is guaranteed a spot in the starting gate on the first Saturday in May.<\/span><\/p>\n

The field is headlined by three graded stakes winners:<\/span><\/p>\n

#10 Lightning Strife 7\/1<\/span><\/b> \u2013 The lone Grade I winner in the field would go over $1 million lifetime with a top-two finish today.\u00a0 It almost seems written in the stars for this colt to win the Bluegrass Derby, being the combination of Awesome Again and foundation mare Magpies Cat, who has thrown three graded stakes winner including G1 Iool Oaks<\/i> winner Stormy Lyric (Unbridled\u2019s Song).\u00a0 He played around in sprints early in his career but showed his ability in a G3 win at a mile before winning the G1 North Fork <\/i>at 1 1\/16 miles last September.\u00a0 He flopped at the Breeders\u2019 Bowl but second time out as a three year-old he took off to win the G3 Buccaneer Derby<\/i> at 1 1\/16 miles over a good track.\u00a0 He\u2019s very dangerous in here.<\/p>\n

#7 Double Dissolution 13\/1 \u2013 <\/span><\/b>A heck of a price offered on this son of Sepoy.\u00a0 He comes in off an eye-popping effort in the G2 Moises Alou Cap<\/i>, closing from dead last at the half to win by a head at 14-1 odds at 1 1\/16 miles.\u00a0 There are questions about the quality of that field (the only other graded stakes winner there, a G3 winner, finished 13th), however, and the performance did come a bit out of left field.\u00a0 This is the dam\u2019s only stakes winner amongst six foals.\u00a0 He should relish the extra distance in here and will be running late.<\/p>\n

#12 Awesome Kingmambo 8\/1 \u2013 <\/span><\/b>Scratch-bred has won five straight races in front-running style, including wiring the G2 Fountain of Ute<\/i> last time out.\u00a0 He beat three other graded stakes winners in that race and his effort was greatly flattered when that race\u2019s 6th place finisher, I Love Lucy\u2019s Kash, just missed in last week\u2019s G1 Florida Derby<\/i> (2nd by a neck).\u00a0 He was never really threatened in his last race, holding all others at bay, and I love the fact that the win was at this distance.\u00a0 For a 14-horse field this one is certainly devoid of speed and you have to love his chances.<\/p>\n

The rest of the field, from the rail out:<\/span><\/p>\n

#1 Bonsall Drive 9\/1 <\/span><\/b>\u2013 Malibu Moon scratch-bred as every right to move forward third off the layoff.\u00a0 His best race was a good 4th in February in the G1 Vermont is 4 Lovers<\/i> in an even effort.\u00a0 Faded badly in the G3 Buccaneer Derby <\/i>last time out behind Lightning Strife.\u00a0 With a top speed figure of 102 (though at this distance) he might be a bit too slow for these but could get a minor piece.<\/p>\n

#2 Papa\u2019s Ghost Ted 8\/1 <\/span><\/b>\u2013 Cal-bred is a stone-cold closer coming off two sneaky-good efforts (both SF 103) against Grade I company in the Sand Castle Derby<\/i> and the Vermont is 4 Lovers<\/i>, finishing 3rd both times.\u00a0 Already has a stakes win at 1 3\/16 miles and he should only continue to improve as the distances increase.\u00a0 Sire Papa Clem has no graded winners from 168 foals.\u00a0 This is the kind of horse who could be very dangerous in the Bluegrass\u2026 if he gets in.<\/p>\n

#3 Distinct Echo 9\/1 <\/span><\/b>\u2013 Sire Ice Box has just two graded stakes winners from 273 foals.\u00a0 Half to a stakes winner by Tapit was right next to Lightning Strife down in Tampa, and made a similar move.\u00a0 But while this one\u2019s move flattened, \u2018Strife powered on to victory, leaving Distinct Echo a distant echo in 4th.\u00a0 Race two back was huge (SF 106 at 1 1\/16 miles) in a listed company win.\u00a0 Will be launching a move from midpack.<\/p>\n

#4 Welcome to My Show 13\/1 <\/span><\/b>\u2013 3-for-5 lifetime and has a win at the distance, an open-lengths win (SF 100) in a listed stakes in Virginia.\u00a0 He\u2019s a fast-developing scratch-bred by Tanino Gimlet and could move up but has to do so quickly.<\/p>\n

#5 Almosthockeyseason 8\/1 <\/span><\/b>\u2013 Son of Blame has four wins from six tries, and has a win over this exact trip on this track (SF 104 in February stakes win).\u00a0 He took a step back in his last, however, but it is good to see him stay on track to prepare for this one and, his connections hope, the Bluegrass.\u00a0 Should be well placed in the second flight.<\/p>\n

#6 Travel On 7\/1 <\/span><\/b>\u2013 Jumped up big time in the G3 Buccaneer Derby<\/i> last time out with a speed fig of 109 in finishing a length back in second.\u00a0 He was making only slow progress on Lightning Strife late, however, and never looked like he was getting past him.\u00a0 Still, it\u2019s hard to ignore that huge performance.\u00a0 But is this a slop freak?\u00a0 His top two performances both came over tracks listed as \u201cgood,\u201d including in Tampa… stakes tries on fast tracks have been too bad to be true\u2026 dicey.<\/p>\n

#8 Stormdrop 9\/1 <\/span><\/b>\u2013 Second dam was a G3 winner; dam won a stakes race at 1 \u00be miles; sire Lemon Drop Kid won the Belmont Stakes, so this one is bred to run all day. \u00a0Big win at 1 1\/16 miles last time out (SF 105) in a listed event followed a poor effort at a mile in G3 company.\u00a0 I\u2019m willing to forgive him that race at a flat mile, as he\u2019s clearly bred to be long-winded.\u00a0 Certainly one (of many) with a shot.<\/p>\n

#9 Tapistort Ted 18\/1 <\/span><\/b>\u2013 Tapit foal is 3-for-11 lifetime, and has a win at 1 7\/16 under his cap already.\u00a0 G3 Scam <\/i>effort was poor (8th) and he\u2019s never topped a speed figure of 97.\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t look like he\u2019s ready for this.<\/p>\n

#11 Fallen Madly 12\/1<\/span><\/b> \u2013 Sire Verrazano is still looking for his first graded stakes winner but already has seven stakes winners from 131 foals.\u00a0 Dam has thrown 11 runners, two of which have won stakes (including this one).\u00a0 Looked good last time out in a stakes win at a mile (SF 100) by open lengths.\u00a0 He should enjoy the stretch out and will be running late.<\/p>\n

#13 Farhh Brown 20\/1 <\/span><\/b>\u2013 This is the value horse in the field.\u00a0 Undefeated in just three starts, his mama Ligeia won the G1 Birmingham<\/i> at 1 \u00bc miles as a three year-old.\u00a0 Farhh colt popped up with a stakes win at 20-1 at 1 1\/16 miles last time out, with a big speed figure (106).\u00a0 He did the business that day in front-running fashion but he doesn\u2019t need the lead (see two pressing trip wins prior).\u00a0 He\u2019s drawn outside controlling speed Awesome Kingmambo and should get the first crack at him if he tires.\u00a0 Very, very dangerous.<\/p>\n

#14 Gallop Away 14\/1 <\/span><\/b>\u2013 Tough spot for this son of Victory Gallop.\u00a0 He\u2019s the most experienced in the field (13 career races) but has won just one of his last seven races.\u00a0 Graded efforts have been less than impressive.\u00a0 Outsider.<\/p>\n

Selections:<\/span><\/p>\n

#12 Awesome Kingmambo<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

#10 Lightning Strife<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

#13 Farhh Brown <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

#2 Papa\u2019s Ghost Ted <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many places this weekend will claim to be the beginning of the road to the Bluegrass Derby, but the shortest<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":310,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35663","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35663","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/310"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=35663"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35663\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35664,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35663\/revisions\/35664"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=35663"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=35663"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=35663"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}