Below is an archive of the Derby Prep Alert.
Hello Race Fans!
While there are no official Derby preps this weekend, there is one Oaks prep, the Forward Gal Stakes at Gulfstream… and you know we’ve got you covered! All of last week’s races had somewhat surprising outcomes, but if you consider that favorites only win about 30% of the time, perhaps they weren’t all that surprising after all.
The prep season isn’t only about winning Graded earnings, which is required to be eligible for the Derby, it’s also about learning lessons. With every race, horses are trying new distances and getting fresh challenges that can come in handy on Derby day. The actual order of finish isn’t the only indicator that a horse might do well on the big day; the 2002 winner War Emblem was 5th in the LeComte and 6th in the Risen Star Stakes, while in 1990 Mister Frisky came into the Derby on a winning streak of 16 and finished 8th!
For a look at how Derby winners of the past 10 years have prepped, check out this excellent info-graphic from the Daily Racing Form (pdf).
Since we only have one race this week, we’ll feature a little Q & A.
Question:
Answer:
Take the case of two hopefuls from last year, Pioneerof the Nile (that’s not a typo) and I Want Revenge . Both raced successfully on synthetic surfaces in California; Pioneerof the Nile remained in California while I Want Revenge shipped to New York for his final two preps. Both won the remainder of their preps. Pioneerof the Nile went on to place second in the Derby but unfortunately the very promising I Want Revenge was scratched from the Derby on the morning of the race with an ankle injury. Here’s I Want Revenge’s first try on dirt in the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct , and one of the best performances of last year’s Derby prep season, his following run in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct .
Forward Gal Stakes , Gulfstream Park Website | Twitter
Distance: 7 Furlongs | Class: Grade 2 | Condition: 3-year-old fillies | Purse: $150,000 | Surface: Dirt
The Forward Gal Stakes is named after the 1970 champion 2-year-old filly and was first run in 1981. Contested at 7 furlongs on the dirt, it has produced sprinters and distance runners including 2008’s Female Turf Champion, Forever Together (2007). 1981 winner Heavenly Cause went on to win the Kentucky Oaks and 1989 winner Open Mind not only won the Kentucky Oaks, but also went on to win what was once known as the Triple Tiara , the filly equivalent of the Triple Crown: the Acorn, Mother Goose and Coaching Club American Oaks. Several Forward Gal winners finished second in subsequent Kentucky Oaks, namely Miss Oceana (1984) and Withallprobability (1991), while 2004 winner Madcap Escapade finished third in the Oaks.
This year’s exciting rendition features the return of 2009 Champion 2-year-old filly She Be Wild . Reunited with her Breeders’ Cup jockey, 2009 Eclipse Award winner Julien Leparoux, she’ll attempt to make her record 5 for 6 while trying dirt for the first time. She shipped to Gulfstream after her Breeders’ Cup win at Santa Anita over the synthetic surface and has been training well.
Undefeated Richgirlgonewild defeated several other entrants last out in the Grade 3 Old Hat. They included Joanie’s Catch (2nd), Criolla Bonita (3rd), Touching Beauty (6th) and Carphonic (11th). The first three finishers were considerable long shots that made for a $1 trifecta payout of $18,401.80! Grade 3 Tempted Stakes winner Ailalea is coming in off two wins at a mile.
Other of the 13 entrants of note are Cascading , a daughter of A.P. Indy who is coming off a 7 furlong win in a stakes race at Woodbine over the synthetic, local Si Senora who’s won her last two, Romantic Hideaway who’s won her last three consecutive races at Philadelphia Park, Liam’s Dream who’s undefeated in two starts for trainer Anthony Dutrow, Sister Resistor who’s one for one at Gulfstream and the unpredictable yet talented Bickersons .
The Grade 2 $150,000 Davona Dale on Feb 27 is the next stop for fillies coming out of this race.
– Dana Byerly, Green but Game
Further Reading:
Forward Gal Stakes – Wikipedia EntryForever Together – Wikipedia EntryOpen Mind – Wikipedia EntryShe Be Wild – Horse Racing NationRichgirlgonewild – Horse Racing NationAilalea – Horse Racing NationBickersons – Horse Racing Nation
Tiffany Lass Stakes , Fair Grounds Website | Twitter
Distance: 1 Mile 40 Yards | Class: Stakes | Condition: 3-year-old fillies | Purse: $75,000 | Surface: Dirt
Win: Jody Slew | Place: Bella Medaglia | Show: Tidal Pool
Jody Slew , who had recently been purchased privately to run primarily on turf, surprised everyone including her new owners by winning the Tiffany Lass at 23-1. A hot pace developed up front when Elusive Jozi and Sheer Beauty vied for the lead right out of the gate. Favored Quiet Temper and Red Hot Buddha were not far behind. Tidal Pool and Bella Medaglia were a few lengths behind the first four runners while the eventual winner sat far off the pace.
Coming into the stretch Quiet Temper failed to make a meaningful move, but Bella Medaglia turned it on while Jody Slew came running wide. They dueled briefly before Jody Slew pulled away, but Bella Medaglia put in a game effort and Tidal Pool rallied mildly for third.
Jody Slew’s sire, Slew City Slew , is the sire of Lava Man , the only horse to ever win a Grade 1 on all three surfaces (dirt, turf, synthetic). Jody Slew’s owners had been looking for a grass race for her and entered her in the Tiffany Lass to keep her fit in the interim. It would not be surprising to see her and others entered in the Grade 3 $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Ground on Feb 20.
Full Results and Replay
– Dana Byerly, Green but Game
Further Reading:
Jody Slew – Horse Racing NationBella Medaglia – Horse Racing NationTidal Pool – Horse Racing NationQuiet Temper – Horse Racing NationRed Hot Buddha – Horse Racing NationElusive Jozi – Horse Racing NationSheer Beauty – Horse Racing NationJackpot Joanie – Horse Racing Nation
LeComte Stakes , Fair Grounds Website | Twitter
Distance: 1 Mile 40 Yards | Class: Grade 3 | Condition: 3-year-olds | Purse: $100,000 | Surface: Dirt
Win: Ron the Greek | Place: Maximus Ruler | Show: Letsgetitonmon
The 2010 LeComte was a race full of surprises. Sprinter Cool Bullet , whom many thought would be the pace setter, broke sharply from the outside but took back to sit behind Maximus Ruler and Depaul . Maximus Ruler set increasingly faster fractions as the race unfolded with Depaul not too far behind applying pressure. Worldly and Citrus Kid sat a few lengths behind Cool Bullet while the rest of the pack was strung out with the eventual winner, Ron the Greek , last of all approximately 15 lengths behind the front runners.
Coming into the stretch, Cool Bullet put in a spirited rally, but Maximus Ruler fought back gamely and repelled him. Worldly was well positioned to make a move but couldn’t sustain a bid while Citrus Kid and morning line favorite Turf Melody , who went off at odds of 7-1, were essentially no shows. Meanwhile, Ron the Greek made a bold sweeping move to come wide around the field. It looked like Maximus Ruler had it but in the final strides Ron the Greek powered by to win by length and a half. Letsgetitonmon threaded his way through traffic to come on nicely at the end and get third while Cool Bullet held on for fourth.
While there’s been some speculation and different opinions, it looked as though Maximus Ruler’s jockey didn’t see Ron the Greek coming and was riding as if he had already won the race. Both camps have expressed interest in the next race in the sophomore series at Fair Grounds, the Risen Star Stakes on Feb 20, so it looks promising for a rematch.
The connections of both Worldly and Citrus Kid have reported that they’re giving their horses a break, so it seems unlikely that they’ll be back on the Derby Trail, but both horses would be ones to watch for later in the year. Last year’s LeComte winner, Friesan Fire , made a smashing 4-year-old debut in the Lousiana Handicap earlier on the card wiring the field to win by almost 2 lengths over General Quarters .
Full Results and Replay
– Dana Byerly, Green but Game
Further Reading:
Lecomte Stakes – Wikipedia EntryRon the Greek – Horse Racing NationMaximus Ruler – Horse Racing NationLetsgetitonmon – Horse Racing NationCool Bullet – Horse Racing NationCitrus Kid – Horse Racing NationWorldly – Horse Racing NationTurf Melody – Horse Racing NationFriesan Fire – Horse Racing NationGeneral Quarters – Horse Racing Nation
Holy Bull , Gulfsteam Park Website | Twitter
Distance: 1 1/8 Miles | Class: Grade 3 | Condition: 3-year-olds | Purse: $150,000 | Surface: Dirt
Win: Winslow Homer | Place: Jackson Bend | Show: William’s Kitten
The Derby prep season in Florida got off with a bang Saturday with the impressive win by Winslow Homer in the Grade 3 Holy Bull. Winslow Homer , coming off a 12 length romp in an allowance race at Philadelphia Park in November, beat a solid field of 3-year-olds including Grade 1 winner Homeboykris and Jackson Bend , winner of his last five races. Jackson Bend , Homeboykris and eventual 4th place finisher Thank U Phillipe , pressed a solid pace in the one-turn mile race. Winslow Homer sat just behind the leaders throughout and overtook the pacesetters in the stretch. Jackson Bend held on gamely for second. The closer William’s Kitten came from way back to capture third but never threatened the top two.
Winslow Homer is owned by Fox Hill Farms, owners of a number of promising Kentucky Derby candidates over the last few years including second-place finishers Hard Spun in the 2007 Derby and the ill-fated Eight Belles in 2008. Winslow Homer was sired by Unbridled’s Song , who also sired Eight Belles as well as two other Fox Hill Derby prospects: Old Fashioned and Rockport Harbor . Both were injured and did not run in the Derby.
Trainers for the top two finishers seem committed to running next in 1 1/8 mile Fountain of Youth. While Jackson Bend was beaten this time around, he did enough on Saturday to be given more than a puncher’s chance to turn the tables on Winslow Homer next time. With the top three from the Holy Bull possibly returning on Feb 20 in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, along with some new shooters, the next big Derby prep at Gulfstream is setting up to be a tremendous race.
Full Results and Replay
– Kevin Martin, Colin’s Ghost
Further Reading:
Holy Bull Stakes – Wikipedia EntryWinslow Homer – Horse Racing NationJackson Bend – Horse Racing NationWilliam’s Kitten – Horse Racing NationHomeboykris – Horse Racing NationThank U Phillippe – Horse Racing Nation
