{"id":35698,"date":"2016-04-13T21:52:44","date_gmt":"2016-04-14T01:52:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blacktypebugler.com\/?p=35698"},"modified":"2016-04-13T21:52:44","modified_gmt":"2016-04-14T01:52:44","slug":"g1-arkansas-juvenile-surprise-tap-to-bluff-back-in-two-weeks-in-derby-rush-contenders-johan-pets-da-cat-the-grey-warden-forced-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/?p=35698","title":{"rendered":"G1 Arkansas Juvenile: Surprise! Tap to Bluff Back in Two Weeks in Derby Rush; Contenders Johan Pets Da Cat, The Grey Warden Forced Out"},"content":{"rendered":"

For those trainers hoping to guarantee their colt a spot in the 20-horse Bluegrass Derby<\/i> starting gate, there\u2019s no place but Arkansas this Saturday.\u00a0 The G1 Arkansas Juvenile <\/i>represents the last Derby Lock prep race on the schedule this spring.\u00a0 With most of the top guns having already departed for Kentucky, the 14-horse field this Saturday features just four graded winners and no Grade 1 winners.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Of the various big stories in the hopper for this race, perhaps the biggest was the late surprise entry of G2 Fountain of Ute<\/i> runner up Tap to Bluff<\/b>.\u00a0 He finished 3rd (SF 104 for his second straight race) in the G1 Florida Derby<\/i> just two weeks ago and was set to train up to the Bluegrass Derby before his connections made the last minute decision to enter this race.\u00a0 Such is the pressure of the road to the Derby.\u00a0 Three-for-six lifetime, including a stakes win at 1 3\/16 miles in January (SF 98), this early-presser type breaks from post #2 and is listed at 10-1 on the morning line.\u00a0 He looks to become sire Tapizar\u2019s third graded stakes winner.<\/span><\/p>\n

Late additions came at a price for a number of live entrants, each of whom was squeezed out of the starting gate after looking like they\u2019d be in the field as this morning.\u00a0 Those included sprint star and winner of the G2 Saint Vincent <\/i>Johan Pets Da Cat, G3 Chicago Derby <\/i>runner up Goodbye Gift, and impressive G1 Sand Castle Derby <\/i>fourth-place finisher The Grey Warden, whose Derby dream may well be over.\u00a0 More on them later.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Let us look at the graded stakes winners in the Arkansas Juvenile <\/i>field:<\/span><\/p>\n

#3 Preacher\u2019s Cause 8\/1 <\/span><\/b>\u2013 Scratch-bred by Giant\u2019s Causeway just missed in the G3 Cryogenics Juvenile<\/i> at one mile in just his fourth career start and won the G3 Nashua Special<\/i> two races later at the same distance.\u00a0 He popped two 100+ speed figures as a juvenile.\u00a0 This is just his third start of his sophomore campaign, and he\u2019s looking for his first board finish of the year.\u00a0 The deep closer would be no surprise in here but the fact that he hasn\u2019t progressed off his two year-old numbers is cause for concern.<\/span><\/p>\n

#4 Awesome Indy Wells 9\/1<\/span><\/b> \u2013 The winner of the G2 Land\u2019s End<\/i> in Kentucky at 1 1\/8 miles (SF 110) in wire-to-wire fashion has everything going for him right now.\u00a0 That race was only his second race of the season and you have to wonder if his connections weren\u2019t tempted simply to train up to the Bluegrass Derby off that performance.\u00a0 Four-for-seven lifetime Awesome Again scratch-bred will try to take them as far as he can and he\u2019s going to be tough to beat.<\/span><\/p>\n

#7 Wild Ride Cadet 11\/1<\/span><\/b> \u2013 Another scratch-bred Grade III winner.\u00a0 Son of Candy Ride upset the G3 Rebel Yell<\/i> in front-running fashion over this track just five weeks ago and now looking to pull an Arkansas prep double.\u00a0 Speed figure that day (106) opened eyes, but did he get away with easy fractions?\u00a0 That race drew only 11 entrants and there really wasn\u2019t a ton of quality speed signed on.\u00a0 Only race at nine furlongs was a mediocre fourth in listed company in Kentucky, though that result was flattered when runner-up Bloodboiling took the G1 Wooden Indian<\/i> last week (though winner Almosthockeyseason flopped in the Corkscrew<\/i>).\u00a0 Still, you have to love the win over the track and the continued improvement.<\/span><\/p>\n

#13 Amongst the Waves 10\/1 \u2013 <\/span><\/b>One of the few English-bred colts on the Derby trail, this son of Compton Place became his sire\u2019s only graded stakes winner when he took the G2 BBRS Hustlin Hoosier<\/i> in March at 1 1\/8 miles while still eligible for the N1x allowance condition.\u00a0 The speed fig that day was big \u2013 107 \u2013 and it\u2019s good to see that he has won at this distance, albeit it on a dirt track labeled \u201cgood.\u201d\u00a0 Has a versatile early\/pressing style that should suit him here.\u00a0 Dam Lost Baggage (Sadler\u2019s Wells) has three other foals who have raced and none have gotten anywhere near the level of this colt, who is a true breeding success story.<\/span><\/p>\n

The inclusion of Johan Pets Da Cat would have made for five graded stakes winners in the field.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the rest of the field, from the rail out:<\/span><\/p>\n

#1 The Sim Reaper 11\/1<\/span><\/b> \u2013 Bernardini scratch-bred was fourth in the G2 Stanford<\/i> in his third career race, was a stakes winner in his fourth race, and then ran third in back-to-back G2 races to close out a great juvenile campaign.\u00a0 Was fifth in Dubai last time out in the G1 Sand Castle Derby<\/i> and now gets another shot at Derby eligibility.\u00a0 Two races as 1 1\/8 miles have been good \u2013 a G2 3rd (SF 99) at age two and the aforementioned Dubai effort (SF 101).\u00a0 Can move up but needs to do so to compete here.<\/span><\/p>\n

#5 Mission inthe Rain 10\/1<\/span><\/b> \u2013 One of three Malibu Moons in here.\u00a0 This one looked great in winning over 1 3\/16 miles in listed company three weeks ago (3.25 lengths, SF 103).\u00a0 Coming off three straight speed figures between 101-103 and could be right in the mix with a move forward here.\u00a0 Can do his best from dead last or from a stalking spot.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

#6 Dark Storm Rising 6\/1<\/span><\/b> \u2013 Out of the money just once in ten career starts, this son of Bernardini out of Grade II-winning male dam Striking Storm (Mr. Anderson Special, Rising Sun Spring Cup<\/i>) ran a good second behind Amongst the Waves last time out and finished second in the G3 Risen Star<\/i> as well, behind Derby Lock winner Outback Bloodhound (G1 All Saints Derby<\/i>).\u00a0 Speed figures in each (105 and 108) were excellent.\u00a0 Midpack closer has a big chance in here.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

#8 Hidden Identity 9\/1<\/span><\/b> \u2013 Uncle Mo colt was runner-up in the G2 Land\u2019s End<\/i>, just a neck behind winner Awesome Indy Wells, and he was gaining on that colt fast at the line.\u00a0 This deep closer has been slow to develop but has turned it on as a three year-old, winning three straight routes (including a listed stakes event) before his graded stakes debut last month in Kentucky.\u00a0 Off his last, he\u2019ll be dangerous in here and is a true Bluegrass contender if he gets into the field.<\/span><\/p>\n

#9 Achilles Meal 17\/1<\/span><\/b> \u2013 How about an Italian-bred colt on the Derby trail?\u00a0 Federico Tesio himself would have been proud of this breeding job \u2013 sire Prussian has thrown just two stakes winners from 76 total runners and stands for peanuts.\u00a0 Dam Nailed to the Cross (Not for Love) has thrown one stakes winner and has basically made her living on obscure sires after a couple higher-profile flops.\u00a0 She nearly won a Grade III (Timber Stakes<\/i>) route herself as a three year-old.\u00a0 This one finished a really strong second (SF 104) in the G3 Scam<\/i> in California in three year-old bow at 18-1, before running 4th in the Felipe Alou<\/i>.\u00a0 Makes first-ever trip east of Cheyenne for a race and is dangerous off his effort two back.<\/span><\/p>\n

#10 Sex Bob Omb 6\/1<\/span><\/b> \u2013 Malibu Moon scratch-bred was a non-threatening second to Wild Ride Cadet in the Rebel Yell<\/i> on the heels of two straight listed stakes wins prior.\u00a0 He\u2019s 4-for-5 lifetime (with a G3 runner-up finish) on fast dirt, and he\u2019s bred for this trip.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

#11 Corruption Ted 21\/1<\/span><\/b> \u2013 Another entrant of a male dam, this son of Empire Maker took his only win against winners in a five-horse Japan-bred race as a two year-old.\u00a0 He\u2019s a bit of a wild card, making just his third start of the year, and considering his last two (compare <\/i>2nd in G3 Giant Slayer<\/i>, SF 99, with<\/i> 12th in G2 Moises Alou<\/i>, SF 89) could not have been more dissimilar.\u00a0 His race in the Giant Slayer<\/i> was a good one, but there isn\u2019t a single horse in that field that had won a graded stakes before, or has won one since, and the winner just got trounced in Louisiana.\u00a0 Seems too slow even on his best.\u00a0 Dicey.<\/span><\/p>\n

#12 Dopelgangland 17\/1 <\/span><\/b>\u2013 He\u2019s still eligible for an entry-level allowance race, and in fact lost one last month, but the Malibu Moon colt has drawn in here on the back of two strong G3 placings at a mile during his juvenile campaign (2nd in Cornstalk<\/i> in Kentucky, 3rd in Pea Patch Juv.<\/i> in West Virginia).\u00a0 He also had two graded placings in sprints last year.\u00a0 Dam Xtra Dancing has thrown four stakes winners from seven foals, and is such a producer of precocity that she has a two year-old who has already won this year; her best foal to date was G3 winner Future Came to Be (A.P. Indy), who won the G3 Atlanta Cup<\/i> at 1 \u00be miles.\u00a0 This one broke his maiden in a stakes race and has shown a promising midpack style in routes.\u00a0 Could improve in just his second dirt start of the campaign, but his connections didn\u2019t show a lot of faith in his chances to win this when he was put into a turf allowance last time out.\u00a0 Mixed bag.<\/span><\/p>\n

#14 Girl Scout Cookies 9\/1<\/span><\/b> \u2013 Really a bummer they went with the \u201cnew\u201d recipe and got rid of the trans fat\u2026 they just don\u2019t taste the same.\u00a0 And I hate how some factories call them descriptive names like \u201cPeanut Butter Patties\u201d instead of \u201cTagalongs.\u201d\u00a0 Oh, the colt is pretty good, having run third two back in the G3 Risen Star<\/i> with an eye-popping 107 speed figure.\u00a0 Was also third in the G3 Times Square Derby<\/i> (that\u2019s right – he ran in a Derby at age two and is now in a \u201cJuvenile\u201d race at age three) at 1 1\/16 miles, the same distance as the Risen Star<\/i>.\u00a0 Risen Star <\/i>result was flattered when Outback Bloodhound won the G1 All Saints Derby<\/i> next out to secure his Derby spot, though this one flopped there.\u00a0 Has a closing style that tends toward minor awards though the extra sixteenth might help.\u00a0 A lot to like here.<\/span><\/p>\n

Less than 24 hours from the drawing of entries, each of these five horses looked like they had a spot in the starting gate, and their bad luck is a testament to how difficult the road to the Derby is:<\/span><\/p>\n

The Grey Warden<\/span><\/b> \u2013 Dam Lucy Pancakes (A.P. Indy) won stakes going long and threw multiple stakes-winning stayer I Miss Lucy (Awesome Again).\u00a0 Won a listed event at this distance in England two back (SF 101 over good dirt) and was a closing 4th, missing by just two lengths last time out in Dubai\u2019s Sand Castle<\/i>.\u00a0 Just paired up figures and could jump forward off those.\u00a0 Sire Dubawi gets runners going long as well so you know this one would stay the 1 \u00bc miles on Derby Day.\u00a0 Unfortunately it now looks like this major player will not get his opportunity on the First Saturday in May and will have to point to another major goal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Johan Pets Da Cat<\/span><\/b> \u2013 5-for-10 lifetime son of Johannesburg was looking to take the \u201cNyquist\u201d route to the Derby, having begun his three year-old campaign in a win in the seven furlong G2 Saint Vincent<\/i> stakes (SF 107).\u00a0 His first route race was the 1 1\/16-mile G2 Felipe Alou<\/i> in California and was ugly \u2013 8th place (SF 88).\u00a0 Bred top and bottom for speed; dam Johnny Pets Da Cat (Petionville) has thrown two other stakes winners \u2013 both in sprints.\u00a0 It was definitely worth him taking a shot at the Derby but this one is probably going to have to settle for being a great sprinter.<\/span><\/p>\n

Goodbye Gift<\/span><\/b> \u2013 Out of a male dam (Elite Sense, by Street Sense, who won $528k lifetime and two graded dirt routes at age three), this son of Giant\u2019s Causeway has won three of six lifetime and comes in off a great race at 1 1\/8 miles.\u00a0 In that race, the G3 Chicago Derby<\/i>, he made a big move to miss by just \u00be of a length (SF 106).\u00a0 That was a pretty weak field, but still, the effort must be respected and he would have been live in here.\u00a0 He\u2019ll instead try a much softer field in the G2 Heat Less<\/i> in Kentucky on Sunday.<\/span><\/p>\n

Downright Deadly <\/span><\/b>\u2013 Mineshaft speed demon wired a listed stakes at 10-1 over this distance two back, with a big speed fig of 106.\u00a0 Didn\u2019t seem to enjoy the good dirt track last time out in the BBRS Hustlin Hoosier<\/i>.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Magic Malibu<\/span><\/b> \u2013 Dam They Call Me Magic (Danzig) has thrown three stakes winners total, including Grade III winner I\u2019m Street Magic (Street Sense), who won 9 of 29 including the G3 TOCA Sprint<\/i>.\u00a0 Son of Malibu Moon would have been by far the most experienced colt in the field, at 3-for-13 lifetime.\u00a0 He endured an arduous juvenile campaign, which ended with a listed stakes win at 1 1\/16 miles and then finished second in the G3 Pleasure S.<\/i> at the same distance.\u00a0 Has beaten a total of seven foes in two graded stakes races this year.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For those trainers hoping to guarantee their colt a spot in the 20-horse Bluegrass Derby starting gate, there\u2019s no place<\/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-35698","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35698","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=35698"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35698\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35703,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35698\/revisions\/35703"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=35698"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=35698"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=35698"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}