Kentucky Derby Radar – Chapter 7

By Jude T. Feld

WinStar Farm’s Endorsement worked a super half-mile in :46 2/5, under trainer Shannon Ritter, Friday morning at Keeneland. Could he be sitting on a Kentucky Derby (G1) victory?

With all the excitement last weekend’s Toyota Blue Grass (G1) and Arkansas Derby (G1) promised, the races left Derby trail followers feeling a bit empty. Stately Victor seemed to freak on Keeneland’s Polytrack and romped home at 40-1. Line of David took the race at Oaklawn in wire-to-wire fashion, but it is big stretch to think he could pull similar tactics at Churchill with at least five early speed types figuring to contest the pace, including his stablemate, Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Sydney’s Candy.

There is only one race left to amass graded earnings, the Coolmore Lexington (G2) at Keeneland, but the winner is going to have to have some other qualifying earnings to assure himself a berth into the big dance.

Here’s where we stand with less than three weeks to go:

LOOKIN AT LUCKY ($1,480,000 TOPS GRADED EARNINGS LIST) had more problems than Charlie Sheen in the Santa Anita Derby (G1). It is always easier to see the unfolding of a race through binoculars or on television than it is when you are riding in it, but heralded jockey Garrett Gomez never seemed to have this talented colt in a position to win at any time during the running. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert was quite critical of his rider after the race, suggesting a remedial review of Jerry Bailey’s horseracing DVD, oft hawked on TVG, was in order. Watching the son of Smart Strike make two runs and still finish with something left did little to shake Baffert’s confidence in his charge and we have been on the bandwagon all season long. Gomez will reportedly keep the mount for the Kentucky Derby (G1) and in his defense and to his credit, he did not abuse LOOKIN AT LUCKY after the trouble encountered around the 5/16 pole, choosing wisely to save him for the first Saturday in May. Reports from the barn indicate their stable star exited the SA Derby in good order and he is kicking up his heels in the morning – a very positive sign.

ESKENDEREYA ($600,000) followed up his resounding Fountain of Youth (G2) victory with another trouncing of his foes in the Wood Memorial (G1). There is no doubt that the son of Giant’s Causeway is the real deal as the field assembled in New York was the best of Derby season and he made mincemeat of them. Trainer Todd Pletcher has been close in the Kentucky Derby (G1) but a win still eludes him. This colt certainly looks like his best chance ever to break the jinx but his adding front wraps to the equipment for the Wood (G1) has been a talking point this week.

ENDORSEMENT ($400,000) got just that from rival trainer Bob Baffert who said after the Sunland Derby (G3) loss by his previously unbeaten Conveyance, “I think the horse that beat us, of all the others I’ve seen lately, that was pretty impressive. I think we saw a star born today.” Shannon Ritter trains the talented son of Distorted Humor, who has made steady improvement in each of his four starts and seems destined for more. A bullet :46 and change workout at Keeneland since his race underlines how sharp he seems right now.

MISSION IMPAZIBLE ($473,434), a son of top sire Unbridled’s Song, put it all together in the Louisiana Derby (G2) after only four starts and one race around two turns. Lightly raced and improving colts are highly sought after this time of year, so it wouldn’t be a stretch to think another leap forward in the Kentucky Derby (G1) could find the Todd Pletcher trainee posing for pictures. He stretched his legs going a half-mile at Palm Meadows Sunday morning in :49 1/5.

AWESOME ACT ($285,000) missed some training going into the Wood Memorial (G1) and then blew a shoe at the start. He still managed to run decently after all that, so it is evident that the son of Awesome Again has some grit. You hate to see a colt have anything but a perfect path leading up to the Derby but you’ve gotta give him an “A” for effort. He certainly has the talent to be part of the mix on the First Saturday in May if the rest of April is good to him. The Jeremy Noseda trainee worked five-eighths on the Belmont Park training track Tuesday, stopping the clock at 1:01 2/5, while nicking the pastern that had given him grief prior to the Wood.

OFF THE RADAR

INTERACTIF ($307,350) never looked comfortable in the Toyota Blue Grass (G1) and ran a non-descript fourth. His pace and speed numbers for the Kentucky Derby (G1) are looking very light and it might just be that he is better on the turf.

NOBLE’S PROMISE ($738,000) threatened no one in the Arkansas Derby (G1) and regressed in speed figures and stature. Has never been able to beat Lookin At Lucky so why think he’ll start now after such a so-so effort?

DUBLIN ($373,208) had little to offer in the Arkansas Derby (G1) stretch. Maybe his breathing problems are not totally behind him but it is hard to back a colt who has run two mediocre races in a row.

UH OH BANGO ($237,952) was moving best during the stretch run of the Arkansas Derby (G1) but came out of the race with a fractured cannon bone and will be out at least four months.

This entry was posted on Sunday, April 11th, 2010 at 9:24 pm and is filed under Featured Articles. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.