{"id":36183,"date":"2016-05-05T13:20:20","date_gmt":"2016-05-05T17:20:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blacktypebugler.com\/?p=36183"},"modified":"2016-05-09T14:40:16","modified_gmt":"2016-05-09T18:40:16","slug":"bluegrass-derby-fever-began-with-epic-movieland-futurity-g1-teaser-trailer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/?p=36183","title":{"rendered":"Bluegrass Derby Fever Began With Epic Movieland Futurity (G1) Teaser Trailer"},"content":{"rendered":"

LOS ANGELES –<\/span><\/p>\n

Champion-to-be Deadmoney Cadet<\/b> had earned a winter off.\u00a0 After running second in the G3 Darling-Squash Futurity<\/i> and third in the G1 End of the Line Futurity<\/i> in Kentucky, he unleashed a top class move in upper stretch to power home in front in the G1 Breeders\u2019 Bowl Juvenile<\/i> in Kentucky.\u00a0 He\u2019d danced major dances and won the biggest prize of them all.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

But the allure of the G1 Movieland Futurity<\/i> was enough for Deadmoney Cadet\u2019s connections to consider a half measure \u2013 the More Than Ready colt would be freshened for nearly two months up to the Movieland Futurity<\/i> and then take an extended rest before making his three year-old debut.\u00a0 All agreed this was a sensible move; after all, the rest after California\u2019s signature winter race for juveniles could be lengthy because the Breeders\u2019 Bowl Juvenile <\/i>is virtually assured a place in the starting gate for all the spring classics.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

The connections of Swapsco Kitty<\/b> had a different puzzle to solve.\u00a0 Their dynamic Scat Daddy scratch-bred filly had practically laughed at her peers as a two year-old.\u00a0 She was a Grade II winner before the end of May, and finished the fall with three straight Grade I wins, including an open-lengths triumph in the Breeders\u2019 Bowl Juvenile Fillies<\/i>.\u00a0 Her winning time that day was nearly identical to that of Deadmoney Cadet\u2019s, and the ease with which she won had pundits making comparisons to such legends as Winning Colors, Ruffian, and Rachel Alexandra.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

In the summer of 2015, Swapsco Kitty\u2019s connections were dreaming of Kentucky glory on the first weekend in May.\u00a0 In the days following the Breeders\u2019 Bowl<\/i>, they shifted their focus from a Friday win in the Bluegrass to one 24 hours later.\u00a0 It was that decision that set the two juvenile champions on a collision course for a Movieland Futurity<\/i> meeting made for the silver screen.\u00a0 The showdown even warranted a mention in local entertainment trade press, one outlet lamenting that Merv Griffin was not around to produce the race\u2019s television coverage.<\/span><\/p>\n

The supporting cast was as strong as one would expect.\u00a0 Breeders\u2019 Bowl Juvenile<\/i> co-favorite Nureyev\u2019s Ghost<\/b> entered as well, his connections eager for the Ghostzapper colt to improve off a close-up 4th in Kentucky.\u00a0 As the winner of the G1 End of the Line Futurity<\/i>, his ability was undeniable and his brilliant early speed threatened to be a danger to the top pair.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Vyrantium<\/span><\/b> figured to be the beneficiary of that early speed.\u00a0 His two year-old campaign began brilliantly and he was beaten just a head by Nureyev\u2019s Ghost in the G1 End of the Line Futurity.\u00a0 <\/i>His closing kick in the Breeders\u2019 Bowl Juvenile<\/i> opened eyes.\u00a0 He was flying late and gaining on winner Deadmoney Cadet with every stride.\u00a0 Beaten just a half length that day, many thought that he was peaking at the right time and ready to move to the head of the division.\u00a0 His connections no doubt dreamed of making the Eclipse voting interesting with a decisive win.<\/p>\n

New shooter Preacher\u2019s Cause <\/b>had skipped the Breeders\u2019 Bowl, instead annexing the G3 Nashua Special <\/i>at one mile the week after with a powerful late move.\u00a0 A late-developing type like the Giant\u2019s Causeway colt figured to be dangerous.\u00a0 The same thinking applied to G3 Cornstalk <\/i>winner Cantinero <\/b>(Smart Strike).\u00a0 And one could safely toss neither G3 Cryogenics Juvenile <\/i>winner Make Em Believe<\/b>, his Breeders\u2019 Bowl flop notwithstanding, nor royally-bred G3-placed stakes winner More Than Subtle<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The non-racing media coverage, however, focused on fabulous starlet Swapsco Kitty and her showdown with presumptive male champion Deadmoney Cadet.\u00a0 And why not?\u00a0 Rarely does a top filly face the males, and usually no earlier than spring of the three year-old season.\u00a0 Swapsco Kitty\u2019s connections\u2019 act of sportsmanship was virtually unheard of.\u00a0 The world had their eyes on the two champions. <\/span><\/p>\n

The champions had their eyes on each other.\u00a0 Jockey R. Heller had ridden Deadmoney Cadet to victory in the Breeders\u2019 Bowl by taking his charge back to fourth and pouncing on the leaders.\u00a0 His well-timed move left just enough in the tank to hold off the late move of Vyrantium.\u00a0 And with similar speed signed on for the Movieland<\/i>, Heller promised to do the same.\u00a0 Swapsco Kitty\u2019s connections were cagey about their intentions \u2013 perhaps not having yet decided, as new rider V. Bavaro had only worked the filly twice \u2013 though pundits agreed that coming from midpack (as she did in the Breeders\u2019 Bowl) and spotting Deadmoney Cadet too many lengths early would be suicide.\u00a0 Yet Bavaro had to be aware of the late power of Vyrantium and not get burned up too early.<\/span><\/p>\n

The tactical speculation reached a frenzy when Swapsco Kitty drew the rail and Heller vowed in the media to \u201csit just off her flank.\u201d\u00a0 Nobody had seriously considered a situation where the champion filly was more forwardly placed than Deadmoney Cadet; some dismissed it as a bluff intended to allow Deadmoney Cadet to cross over in front of her.\u00a0 Regardless, the draw forced Bavaro\u2019s hand.\u00a0 \u2018Kitty could not be safely wrangled back to midpack from the rail.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the break, Nureyev\u2019s Ghost sped to the front from post 7 as expected; Deadmoney Cadet (post 8) was very keen and tugged his way alongside him.\u00a0 Swapsco Kitty was sent from the rail to hold her position but she ended up getting stuck in the pocket when outsider Symboli Bird<\/b> (post 3) was quick enough to box her in.\u00a0 Nureyev\u2019s Ghost was hard sent through an opening quarter in 22 4\/5 and reached the half in 46 flat.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Ultimately it was the fast pace that gave Swapsco Kitty enough of a cushion to get outside the speed.\u00a0 The top two\u2019s duel left an opening, and the filly had enough turn of foot to leave Symboli Bird and find room to swing outside.\u00a0 Nureyev\u2019s Ghost threw in the towel early after five furlongs.\u00a0 Heller could not have been happy how early he\u2019d made the lead and had to wonder if he would have been better off using the more restrained tactics he\u2019d used in Kentucky.\u00a0 Deadmoney Cadet hit six furlongs in 1:09 4\/5.\u00a0 Swapsco Kitty had dead aim. \u00a0The crowd roared in anticipation of a ding-dong battle but the filly powered by the colt fairly easily to win by \u00be of a length.\u00a0 Symboli Bird stayed on well to be third.\u00a0 Vyrantium\u2019s closing move was way too late; he was a non-threatening fourth.<\/span><\/p>\n

A huge on-track throng cheered the winner. \u00a0Others catcalled to Heller for a questionable ride.\u00a0 Vyrantium\u2019s supporters complained of some of the trouble he had in upper stretch.\u00a0 Japanese-bred Symboli Bird was hailed as \u201cdeveloping at the right time.\u201d\u00a0 The math geeks at Cal Tech were raving about Nureyev Ghost\u2019s \u201catmosphere-adjusted pace fig.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Most of all, the smell of the Bluegrass was in the air.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

LOS ANGELES – Champion-to-be Deadmoney Cadet had earned a winter off.\u00a0 After running second in the G3 Darling-Squash Futurity and<\/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":[4,2],"tags":[179],"class_list":["post-36183","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general","category-previews","tag-bluegrass-derby-2016"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36183","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=36183"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36183\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36419,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36183\/revisions\/36419"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=36183"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=36183"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=36183"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}