SUN Derby – Grade III [KYD]

1 1/8 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $800.000 Open 3 Year Olds.

1st Handsome, trained by D J C Racing Stables
This formerly average Juvenile has improved out of hand this year winning a sprint allowance on seasonal debut before a game win in the Battaglia Memorial Stakes. Those efforts were pretty good but he took another giant step forward today with a fairly comfortable three quarters of a length win over a graded stakes winner. A son of the brilliant racehorse Niagra he will go forward into the Derby now as a real chance with the only thing his owner may regret being a gelding operation before he saw the racecourse.

2nd Indistinguishable, trained by Mb Stables
He was taken back into the chasing pack early on and closed hard in the final furlong to go down by under a length. This wasnt the best ride of the day by the AI that represents J R Valezquez but was pretty similar to his last ride on the same horse in the Risen Star. One feels if the champion trainer can get this one to get a better position early on he could be a force in May.

3rd Dastardly Havoc, trained by Mb Stables
Used the wide gate to put himself on the pace in the stalk and looked a chance as they hit the furlong pole. The wide gate inevitably causes a horse to weaken late though and whilst he didnt exactly give up he did get out battled. Time has probably run out for him now but i feel this pair will go again before they give up on a KYD place.

4th Dont Look Good, trained by Estero Farms
Kept giving all the way to the line and was only beaten a length in the end, a good effort but like the second and third his options are running out now. His trainer may look for some mile races now and take on the KYD with his other qualifiers.

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