3/12/2022

  16  TAM    The TAM Derby (GII) [KYD]

        $400.000         3yo          1 1/16m  Dirt           120lbs

It’s Florida… so it rains.  And we cannot let a little precipitation hold down a big race like The TAM Derby (GII) and I thought this was a very exciting race where the speed folded, the closers rallied, the tote board was lit and we may have more questions than answers.  When the dust, well, mud.. settled, All Take, owned by Alydar Stables split foes nearing the furlong marker, and closed determinedly to win by three-quarters of a length.  He covered the mile and a sixteen in 1:46.10 on the muddy TAM main track.  Karloffs Monster, a filly that had shown prior liking of a wet surface, closed a late gap down the outside to take the second spot, with Dont Ever Try It rallying up the rail to take third – all of these at double-digit odds.  Slavery Is Wrong was fourth.

The full field of twelve loaded into the gate and were away with The Godfather jumping out of the gate to show the way, a foursome giving chase that included Gem Of A Shark, Proxy, Killer instinct from the rail and Proud Fury up four wide.  A gap back to Shamo between horses, Karloffs Monster from the outside and Deserve back towards the inside, then All Take, Elemental, Dont Ever Try it and Slavery Is Wrong was the early trailer.

Under the wire the first time by, dashing around the clubhouse turn and nearing the backside with six furlongs to run, The Godfather continued to show the way by two, Proxy in the three path giving chase, Gem Of A Shark on his inside, Proud Fury on his outside and down to the rail for Killer Instinct.  Another length to Deserve, then a length to All Take on the outside of Elemental on the rail, Shamo just in behind that pair, Karloffs Monster on his outside and Slavery Is Wrong on her flank, then a gap to the trailer, Dont Ever Try It.

The field made their way down the backside and not moving into the far turn with three and a half furlongs to run, The Godfather trying to carry them all the way and opened up by two and a half lengths.  Proxy trying to keep the pressure on the leader, then Gem Of A Shark, Proud Fury and Killer Instinct just in behind that one.  Deserve just in behind that group, then a wall that included Elemental from the rail, All Take next to that one, out wider for Shamo, Karloffs Monster on his flank, Slavery Is Wrong widest of all then back to the rail for the trailer, Dont Ever Try It. 

Around the far turn and into the lane, the run for the cash was on and right on time, the cavalry charge was on.  The Godfather will had the lead but it was a half length and disappearing fast… Proxy moved up quickly on his outside and was about to look him in the eye.  Then a  wall of six that included Gem Of A Shark, Deserve, Shamo in the center, Slavery Is Wrong moving up widest of all, Karloffs Monster next to that one and full of run, then in behind that group was the foursome of Killer Instinct, Dont Ever Try It looking for running room, Elementa and All Take trailed.

As they neared the final sixteen, the speed was falling apart as The Godfather and Proxy were backing out of it, and the closers were coming fast as the filly, Karloffs Monster pressed up to take over from the outside, Slavery Is Wrong on her outside, Dont Ever Try it found room along the rail and was flying home…  and in the blink of an eye, All Take found running room and was flying down the center of the field. 

Now to the final 150-yards and to the finish Karloffs Monster with the lead, Dont Ever Try It flying up the rail, but All Take had the momentum, and he went past both of those rivals to get clear by three quarters of a length and take the win.  Karloffs Monster run a big race to secure the place and Dont Ever Try It was a half length back in third.  Slavery Is Wrong was fourth, a neck better than post-time favorite Shamo in fifth, Proxy was sixth, Elemental seventh Deserve eighth, Gem Of A shark ninth, Proud Fury tenth, The Godfather tiring to be eleventh and Killer Instinct closed this one out.

All Take is a 3yo bay gelded son of Niagra – Takethemoneyandrun, by Take A Million, and he was bred in BC by Team 7 Illusions.  Alydar Stables acquired him two races back for $250.000 via private purchase, with both of his starts for this barn coming over the Oldsmar oval… a third last out in the Davis Stakes (GIII) and this big win.  He now has three wins from seven starts and has shows lifetime earnings of $411.000.   Congrats to the connections!

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Muddy               Time: :22⁴  :46¹  1:11²  1:46
$1 Exacta: 4 – 12 Paid 163.60         $1 Trifecta: 4 – 12 – 5 Paid 912.00
Scratched: All Decima

All Take mid-pack 3p to the far turn, lost ground into and through the turn, responded when asked, found racing room 5p, split foes, up late.  Karloffs Monster rated back 4p to the lane, moved to 7p lane, closed, just missed.  Dont Ever Try It trailed early, moved to the rail to save ground first turn, closed well on the rail.  Slavery Is Wrong very wide trip, swung widest into the lane, good effort.  Shamo rated back racing 3p, moved to 5p for the drive, out-kicked.  Proxy tracked the leader to the furlong pole, took short lead there, nothing left.  Elemental raced inside under wraps, passed tiring rivals late.  Deserve wide trip, no factor.  Gem Of A Shark pressed the pace to the furlong pole, nothing left.  Proud Fury raced just behind the pace to the top of the lane, folded.  The Godfather broke alertly, set the pace to the furlong marker, stopped.  Killer Instinct showed interest to the far turn, tired. 

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES, TC 2021-2023, THE TRIPLE CROWN