The IND Derby – Grade III
1 1/16 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $500.000 Open 3 Year Olds.

1st Smugglers Blues John Henry Saenz D

This horses works had been steadily improving to the point that he was working grade one winning times but had only won one from eleven. He had run some good races in defeat up to this point and today was perfectly ridden to score by a head. I am not sure how he started favourite on 6 defeats as a three year old but clearly the odds generator works on a few more things other than form and it turned out to be right in a driving finish. John Henry has been in great form recently and this will be another string to their bow going into the lucrative second part of the season.

2nd Delaware Warrior Nakamura Stables Bravo J

Running from gate ten, the outsider of the field and a well beaten tenth in the Peter Pan when last tried at this level he found something from somewhere today to run a very close second and maybe would’ve even won in a few more strides. We will only know whether this was improvement or a flash in the pan in his next race but his works said he could run a race like this so i am opting for improvement.

3rd Devilish Details Mb Stables Sanchez M J

I couldnt understand why this horse was 20/1 in the opening market with the 4th fastest dirt mile work this year and a stunning grade two win last time but its clear after the race that the odds generator knows more than me. True this horse had won all its races on turf but i really though that work was the key. As it turned out it was the pace of the race and this horses instructions that were the key as he found the front and there’s usually only one result when that happens. I would imagine its back to turf for him now but there will always be that work to tempt the great one.

4th Chai Bay Serenity Stables Ortiz I Jr

Kept on really well from the stalk but just missed going down by a half length in a finish where most of the field were covered by a length. Its difficult to see this one improving passed the ones that were in front of him but there are plenty of good races left in him and i would expect a good race to come his way.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES