Derby Botany – Bluegrass, Bayou and Cactus
March 26th, 2010By Jude T. Feld
Ah! The flora and fauna on the road to the Kentucky Derby (G1). For the last two weeks it was gators, boars and manatees but this week the pallet changes. The bluegrass of Kentucky, the bayou of Louisiana and the cactus filled desert of New Mexico. The fields are as diverse as the landscape but Derby fever can be caught anywhere.
SATURDAY
LANE’S END STAKES (G2) – TURFWAY PARK RACE 9
CONNEMARA broke his maiden at Turfway Park and has moved forward ever since. He has won on Polytrack, Pro Ride and Tapeta. Hall of Fame jockey Russell Baze fits him like a glove and there is plenty of pace to set up his closing charge Saturday afternoon. Look for the son of Giant’s Causeway, from the Todd Pletcher barn, to run another corker. DEAN’S KITTEN has been facing some stiff competition. Top Kentucky Derby (G1) hopefuls Interactif and Eskendereya appear in his past performances as well as solid turf performer Bridgetown. A little tactical speed could go a long way in this race and he’s got some. Look for jockey Cornelio Velasquez to give him first run at the pacesetters turning for home. LETSGETITONMON lacks early speed but closers can do quite well at Turfway some days. His jockey, John McKee, excels with stretch-running types and the son of Maria’s Mon has a Polytrack victory to his credit at Arlington Park. His trainer Steve Asmussen is one of the best at spotting his charges and this looks like a very good scenario if a pace duel develops.
LOUISIANA DERBY (G2) – FAIR GROUNDS RACE 10
When a horse goes wire-to-wire, a closer isn’t going to win. (Brilliant!) I was standing behind Todd Pletcher at Gulfstream when he was watching DISCREETLY MINE win the Risen Star (G2) from flagfall to the finish and when the race was over, he turned around and said, “THAT was the longest two minutes in sports.†With lots of early lick entered against him this time, the son of Mineshaft had better improve his finishing kick if he wants to take home the chrome. STAY PUT looks like horse sitting on a huge effort. He closed from tenth to fifth and from 11 lengths behind to only three at the finish in the Risen Star (G2). He also raced wide throughout. The stretch is long at Fair Grounds and with a little tighter trip on the turns and an extra eighth of a mile to work with…well, you know what I’m saying. DROSSELMEYER should be on “To Tell the Truth.†Was his allowance number real? Did he bounce last time? Can he rebound today from the 13 hole? “Will the real DROSSELMEYER please stand up!†RON THE GREEK comes from farther back than STAY PUT but he could have a major say in the outcome with five or six speed types ding-donging on the front end. FLY DOWN looked good winning his 2010 debut but will need his best to threaten these. Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito upset the apple cart last week in Florida. Can he do it again in the Big Easy?
SUNDAY
SUNLAND DERBY (G3) – SUNLAND PARK RACE 12
Undefeated CONVEYANCE seems to be taking a dip in class despite staying at the Grade 3 level and running for $800,000. Trainer Bob Baffert has been teaching the son of Indian Charlie from a Holy Bull mare to ration his blazing speed and it seems as if the Hall of Famer’s program is working. The $240,000 Keeneland September Sale yearling has posted some excellent workouts since his Southwest (G3) victory and another solid performance can be expected on Sunday. TEMPTED TO TAPIT chased Discreetly Mine around the Fair Grounds only to come up a bit short. He will be closest to CONVEYANCE throughout and should be ready to pounce if there is any slowing down late. His connections have always held the son of red-hot sire Tapit in high regard and they send underrated rider David Cohen to the desert to pilot their colt. GUILTBYASSOCIATION had a horrid trip in the Borderland Derby. He gets a huge jockey switch to Isaias Enriquez for this race. The son of Belmont (G1) winner Birdstone will have no problem with the distance and could upset at a big price for sharp trainer Todd Fincher. At the very least, he could help your tris and supers.
