August 3, 2015
The best horse not to win a race this season tried his best to triumph in the Grade II WV Derby on a huge day of racing at MNR on Saturday but when Dominant Speed got caught between rivals late, it was up to Grade I winner Unsuited to pick up the pieces and the now $1,300.000 earner came through to score at 18-1 by a half-length. A complete son of Grade II Nashua winner Well Informed, with pedigree on both sides through star sires Red Rioja, Steel Ball and Cheap Thrills, he has attracted huge purchase prices on two occasions in the last eight months and has proven great for all involved, winning huge purses with huge speed ratings including this 99-mark, which ranks as his best alongside his FL Derby score earlier this season.
Moon Prince (17.70) broke like a shot from one of the inside stalls but Royal Prodigy (11.45) quickly took command and burst forward to secure the WV Derby lead, with Moving Cloud (622.90) directly to his inside at outrageous odds. Decima (3.00) sat third under the wire for the first time as the leaders sprinted wide and clear and while Royal Prodigy was able to get down to the rail, Moving Cloud and Jack The Flipper (7.50) both wound up in the middle of the track around the first turn. Those two eventually found good positions as the field sorted themselves out and the three frontrunners, led by Royal Prodigy, muscled their way forward with Mazula Ruler (24.25) tucked inside from the rail. Everyone marched two-by-two through the first half-mile in 47.49 as Moving Cloud inched up to engage the leader and while Mazula Ruler made his move early, others waited for a better time with a wall of four lining up five-lengths behind the well-meant pacemaker. With four-furlongs to go, Jack The Flipper started to move up in an effort to save any kind of ground and that forced the hand of others in behind and while Royal Prodigy battled his way through six-furlongs in 1:11.08, the real danger was coming in the form of Unsuited (17.90), who seemed to be getting on track between rivals. Moving Cloud eventually took a brief lead with Mazula Ruler clearly third and the back markers coming but with two-furlongs to go, things still looked in flux until Unsuited burst through. With a dramatic rush, the FL Derby winner almost inhaled Moving Cloud and no one really seemed to have the same kick and he was a length to the good in the shadow of the wire. Favoured Dominant Speed (*1.60) finally got going from in between foes and made a minor race of it late but Unsuited was too good on this day and wound up winning by a neck, with Decima making a wide rally for third while a length in arrears. Mazula Ruler just edged out Moving Cloud for the final cheque while Royal Prodigy and Jack The Flipper took very different paths to their midpack finishes, with Lincoln (11.55) coming way too late to make any headway. Valar Morghulis (7.20) clearly struggled from start to finish and checked in near the back while Moon Prince failed to maintain his position and came in last, around seven-lengths back of the rousing winner.
The last time a horse used the Queen’s Plate at WO as a stepping stone to WV Derby glory, it was the everlasting Vouvray in 2012 and three years later, Unsuited finally got back to his winning form with a big score at MNR in track record time. Of course, the Grade I Travers seems like the most likely spot for him to run next but there are actually a few other options and for this money, races like the Grade III Jones, Grade II Super Derby and Grade III BC Derby all give him the chance to pad his bankroll without having to face the best of his division until the BC Classic.
Congratulations goes out to owner Hawaiian Shirt Guy and their three-year-old colt Unsuited, an off-the-pace winner of the Grade II WV Derby at MNR!
Prediction Dominant Speed / Lincoln / Valar Morghulis
Winner Unsuited
Three-year-old black colt
Well Informed-Roundhouse (Steel Ball)
Owner Hawaiian Shirt Guy
Time 47.49, 1:11.08, 1:35.46, 1:47.78 (NTR)
Overall
Unsuited 17.90 between foes, drove home, up in time
Dominant Speed *1.60 between foes, sharp late rally, too late
Decima 3.00 wide run, just missed second
Mazula Ruler 24.25 mired in traffic, even finish
Moving Cloud 622.90 pressed forward, stalled late
Royal Prodigy 11.45 set pace, tired only late
Jack The Flipper 7.50 wide run throughout
Lincoln 11.55 no factor
Valar Morghulis 7.20 outrun
Moon Prince 17.70 pressed, faded
Triple T Racing 🙂
Categories: Grade II
