Sophomores Seek Horsonal Glory in Graded Events
September 23rd, 2010By Jude T. Feld
We’ll have a taxi waiting for Hurricane Ike at the Louisiana Downs eighth poleThree-year-olds are featured Saturday with two major Derbies and the Kent (G3) on tap. It will be interesting to see if any of the boys from the Triple Crown trail emerge or regress. Stay tuned.
KENT (G3) – DELAWARE PARK RACE 8
Everyone who regularly reads this blog knows of my fondness of INTERACTIF. He is a super-talented colt who was maligned on the road to the Triple Crown when he was run in spots that didn’t suit him. To his credit, trainer Todd Pletcher regrouped and revised the son of Broken Vow’s schedule and he has responded with a second-place finish in the Virginia Derby (G2) and a victory in the Hall of Fame (G2). There is plenty of speed to set up his closing kick and jockey Fernando Jara is an excellent substitute for Javier Castellano.
GALLANT BLOOM (G2) – BELMONT RACE 9
RAPPORT exits an easy victory in the paceless Victory Ride (G3) at Saratoga. A very similar set-up could occur in this race as the only other reliable speed filly is MOONTUNE MISSY who has problems with stakes foes and is best at seven furlongs.
SUPER DERBY (G2) – LOUISIANA DOWNS RACE 11
Today’s Racing Digest would call GOLDEN MOKA a SIANR play (Something In A Nothing Race) or as the great Herald-Examiner handicapper Jerry Antonucci would say, “Sayonara!†This might be the weakest Grade 2 field ever assembled, as HURRICANE IKE couldn’t get a mile and an eighth in a taxicab and he is the only graded winner in the field. Look for a huge effort from the Canadian invader.
PENNSYLVANIA DERBY (G2) – PHILADELPHIA PARK RACE 11
EXHI has developed into a very solid racehorse. His Brisnet speed figures have shown steady improvement in his last three starts and he has posted several bullet workouts since his second-place finish in the West Virginia Derby (G2). Hot-riding jockey Javier Castellano takes the reins today as Robby Albarado opts to scale morning line favorite FIRST DUDE.
