The LA Derby (Grade 2) (KYD)- $1,000.000 Purse
LA- For Three Year Olds
One Mile and Three Sixteenths on the Dirt
March 20, 2021

Derby prep season continues to go very well for Mb Stables, and he would continue to roll off the wins in these races in the LA Derby as Evergreen held off his rivals to earn the 100 points. This is almost the same way that the 50 points races began, as Evergreen also won the Risen Star, but this time Mb’s other runner didn’t join in on a dead heat for the win. You have to like that way that this horse ran the race and that had led to several calling him the favorite for the KYD. Certainly, that is a fair thought but we still have a few more weeks to see new horses emerge or others who have been good as well reminding us of how good they are. Congratulations to Mb Stables on his third win in the LA Derby, as he also won in 2016 with Cliffs of Moher and in 2018 with Blindfold. Jockey A Cedillo is a first time winner, and the race was run in 1:55.04, a little slower than last year’s, which was the first time the race was run at this distance. Let’s take a look!

(½ Mile- :48.10)- The field breaks into their all too familiar groups of four at the start of the race, and with a slight lead in the first group it is Dazed, from Mb Stables around the opening turn, but once they get to the half mile point, Turbocharged, from Aer Stables, enjoys the top spot for the time being. These two are now a length ahead of the two that initially broke with them, Fauci, from D J C Stables, and Darth Charley, from Diablo. the next group of four sees Sacred Order leading it. This is a horse that got into the race off the also eligible list with the scratch of Stress Free. Close by, we find our eventual winner from Mb Stables, Evergreen, running evenly with the Patterson Stables trained, Baller Alert. Arindel’s Shimkal Storm is within a half length of them. Creepy Havoc (Estero Farms) is trying to keep up with them. The trailers are Oleg (Arindel), Dime Defense (Asgar), Familiar Moon (John Henry), Dutty John Crow (Night Rider Stables), and Sunderland Til I Die (TwinTowersRacing).

(¾ Mile- 1:11.79)- Turbocharged runs well in the backstretch and pulls away from Dazed, but that may also have been a product of Dazed beginning the drop out of it. Turbocharged has a length lead now over the new second place horse, Darth Charley. Dazed is still third for now, but about to lose that position to Sacred Order, who is making the most out of his chance in the outside lane. Fauci, Baller Alert, and Evergreen all maintain their positions which are in striking distance from the lead. Others needed to get moving if they were going to get the win.

(Top of Stretch, 2F To Go)- Entering the stretch, Darth Charley closed in on Turbo charged and looked to make the pass from the lead. He had not quite done that yet, but was imminent early on in the stretch. Sacred Order still was running very well, running in the third position, and in the third lane with time to strike. Baller Alert ran fourth, with a good lane potentially there for him on the rail, while Evergreen needed to go four wide. Behind them, it was Fauci and Dazed, but the more interesting horse to watch exiting the turn was Oleg, who made a big wide move. Would he make a late impact here? Creepy Havoc and Shimkal Storm were lacking response. Dime Defense was starting to show interest but had too much ground to make up. The others would be afterthoughts.

(Finish- 1:55.04)- As we approached the wire, things got pretty intense, as we were four wide across the track with a little less than a furlong to go, and another looking to make that five wide. Darth Charley fought valiantly, but Evergreen, running on the outside had just a little more energy in the ending moments to pick up a thrilling win by half a length over a very tight photo for second. In it, Darth Charley prevailed over Baller Alert, whom narrowly beat Sacred Order. Turbocharged was right there too, but unlike the others, does not get a check to show for it. There was a gap of almost two lengths to the others, with the late running Dime Defense getting up for sixth, topping Oleg. The rest of the field were further back, with the final order being Dutty John Crow, Creepy Havoc, Fauci, Shimkal Storm, Dazed, Sunderland Til I Die, and Familiar Moon.

About The Winner- Evergreen, trained by Mb Stables and ridden to victory by A Cedillo, is a three year old colt by Centerpiece, and is out of Calm And Collected. He was bred in Florida as a yearling by Mb Stables, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his fifth in nine starts, and his third consecutive. Four of those wins are graded wins. His career earnings are now $1,015.800.

Track: Fast
Time: :48   1:11³  1:36   1:55

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 13 – 12 Paid 111.90
$1 Trifecta: 13 – 12 – 1 Paid 1,690.60

Scratched: Added Value, Stress Free

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES