SUN Derby – Grade III [KYD]
SUN Race #10 1 1/8m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $500.000 For Three Year Olds.
For all the fuss that was made about fillies it seems once more the whole thing was a storm in a teacup as once more we get a full field of colts and geldings and not a filly in sight. It is getting to the sharp end now for the KYD and this race can often give a chance to some on the fringes with other more popular races on the cards in the coming days and weeks. Here is how the full field lines up:
1 Lions Reward Smokey Stover Cedillo A
Ran twice for Broken Spoke Stables un-placing both times in maiden company but then Smokey Stover puts their hands in their deep pockets and took the gelding home and low and behold he strolled home an easy four length winner in his very next race. His works said he was in line for a race like this before that price was paid and he gets in with the ace draw in an attempt to give the trainer yet another string to their impressive bow.
2 America First TwinTowersRacing Lezcano J
I know there isn’t a bigger patriot than the owner of this horse so i know they would be over the moon if they could get this home bred into the Derby. He has been handed the perfect draw to do that and on the face of it this one hasn’t got to find much to make that dream come true. He kept on well in the MTB Derby last time and flew home in the Swale before that so the trip is sure to suit and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him in at the finish.
3 Individuation Mb Stables Franco M
The first of the inevitable three runners for the stable this draw would’ve pleased the owner as this looks to be the best of the three. Bought for $300 after his maiden win he went on to take a decent allowance before a tilt at the Rebel. Drawn well he ran home strongly to be second that day and has since worked very strongly recording a 1.36 and 2 on the 10th of this month. Must start favorite in a race the owner won last year with none other than Howl To The Hound.
4 Brave Freedom Nakamura Stables Carrasco V R
An impressive maiden winner in September last year he has struggled a bit to go on from that since. His two efforts this year have seen him beaten in allowance company which isn’t the ideal warm up for a race like this but his works are fair so the way racing tends to be you can’t write him off.
5 Launchpad Mb Stables Jaramillo E
Looks like this trip will suit after two wins in a row have seen him go from a thrice losing maiden to a decent contender for this sort of race. His works are draw are OK so i don’t think he is just here to help his stable mates and i am pretty sure the trainer will be looking to score points with him.
6 Shook John Henry Bridgmohan S X
An easy debut winner last April he has failed seven times since and looks like his price tag may have been a bit steep. His works are in the ball park but he has had plenty of chances and has not yet come up to the mark. A chance like the other 13 runners but not an obvious one.
7 Gendarmerie Mo Mentum Farm Baird E T
Did pretty well as a juvenile but disappointed in his first two starts of the year. He was better last time in the Battaglia Memorial and comes here one of the fittest in the race but that may not be enough to see him winning. The under rated trainer will have him ready though and he has the ball park works to give him an outside chance of some points.
8 Silver Rocket Crocker Ggs Contreras L
He ran some nice races on the turf as a juvenile but switched to dirt with the KYD in mind after a close sixth in the Bourbon. I think he may be a little better on the grass but he is still pretty useful on the dirt as he proved with a close second in the Sham Stakes after flying home from a hopeless position. On that run i rather liked his chances in the Withers last time but he got a fair way behind early on from the car park draw and that is nearly always the kiss of death on this new engine. Ignoring that last run i think he has a good each way chance.
9 Ey Mon Arindel Saez L
Dead heated with Gendarmarie in the Battglia Memorial and is drawn right net to his rival today so there wont be much in it again. He tried to make all that day and got run down but had previously won a decent maiden over this trip without getting run down. I suspect he will be forward placed again today and if they leave him alone this emerging trainer could upset the apple cart a bit.
10 Paco D J C Racing Stables Davis D
Took one of the first stakes race for juveniles last year and has been thrown into just about every big race since but without success. His trainer has never been afraid at giving a horse a chance but he has given this one more than most. A solid horse both on the track and off it he looked a bit improved in the Holy Bull after being gelded so he gets perhaps one last chance today.
11 Rent Free Mb Stables Hernandez C J
Won four in a row at lower grade before being given his chance in the El Camino last time where he ran a respectable fourth. I do wonder whether he will be asked to carry his stable mates into the race with this wide draw so it may be a risk to go all in with him but he certainly has ability and plenty of third strings have won before.
13 Dragons Teeth Alydar Stables Centeno D E
Took a while to break his maiden but did so in good style last time out and he looks to have made some good progress between two and three. His works suggest he can get into this race but he will need some luck from the race engine as he has been handed an awful draw. He may offer some value as i think he may be better than most.
14 Distorted Reasoning Dawson Farms Ferrer J C
I would say that this is probably the best horse in the race. He has won both the Pasco and the Risen Star this year and was very impressive in the Risen Star. Four wins from seven starts, unbeaten this year in black type and working 1.36 and 2 for the mile, yup, i think i can safely say this is the best horse in the race. So how can it get beat, well the draw is just the thing that can do exactly that. The last time he had a wide draw was in the LA Futurity and he was dumped out the back which will be the end of his chances if that is repeated today. If the trainer gets an favors from the starting stalls then i think this is the winner.
15 Chais Thrill Mwn Racing Velazquez J R
Needed some favors to get in the race and needs a few more to win it. A solid and consistent maiden he would be a shock winner of this for sure. Having said that this is HRP so a wide draw and a maiden runner, looks like a cert to me !!
SUMMARY
There looks to be two stand outs here, Distorted Reasoning and Individuation. They would be the best two on form but it is often fun to look for some odds and i rather like America First or maybe Dragons teeth to spice up the trifecta’s.
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
