LA Derby – Grade II [KYD]
1 1/8 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $1,000.000 Open 3 Year Olds.

1st Cliffs Of Maher, trained by Mb Stables
A slow start saw him third last at the first turn but he found a clear rail and seemed happy
enough. After three furlongs there was a lot of horses in front of him and only one behind
but as the leaders used valuable energy he was swinging off the bit. He started to take closer
order with a half mile to run and was sneaking up the rail as they hit the home turn but still had six
lengths to make up and 12 horses to pass. As luck would have it the rail opened up for him as they made
the final turn and with two furlongs to run and just the straight in front of them he had a clear
look at the lead but still a  bit to do. As they ran to the line he always looked like he may get up
especially as he had run a half furlong less than his two main rivals virtue of a dream rail run.
In the end he won going away and goes into the KYD with a big chance if his late run can find the
same sort of miracle pathway that it found this time

2nd Champagne Supernova, trained by Eastern Equine
Got catapulted forward by the wide speed push and tracked wide into turn one. His jockey put the
anchors on a bit as they entered the back straight easing him off the speed duel but still sitting
wide in fourth place. Still four wide into the home turn he still had a handy enough position to
launch his attack and as they hit the stretch thats exactly what he did. Running on gamely he never
gave up and ended up a brave second running a great KYD trail. This was probably the best run in
the race and with a kinder draw in the KYD he would have a lively chance.

3rd Coup De Lyon, trained by Nakamura Stables
Got the rail early and sat nicely just in front of mid pack through turn one. By the time they hit
the back stretch he had worked forward a little and held the perfect position. Still on the rail into
the home turn, he was only four lengths off the lead and looked to be ready to launch. As the horses
bunched into the straight with two to run he found himself in a pocket and his run was compromised.
Once he found clear air he ran on very strongly for third and will have pleased his connections with
this strong effort.

4th Prime Time Opus, trained by Aer Stables
Taken back but didnt find the rail as they raced into turn one and ended up well off the speed. He
was pushed forward through the turn and was posted wide but much handier to the pace into the back
stretch. As they appraoched the home turn he was sent right up into the lead but was five wide going
into it. By the last two furlongs and with just the stretch to run his brave effort saw him
in the lead but being challenged and whilst he didnt give up he looked vulnerable and eventually ended
up fourth.

5th Moment Of Madness, trained by Mb Stables
Just worse than midpack he got sandwiched in turn one and fell off the speed. He fell further back
through the turn and was nearer the back into the back straight. With all sorts of traffic in front
of him he was only a length or so behind the eventual winner with two furlongs to run but had to
weave around a wall of horses and never really had a chance to run free. When he did find some space
he ran on very well and proved that he is not out of the KYD picture just yet

6th Clovis Ali, trained by Night Rider Stables
Trailed early. Took closer order appraoching the turn but had a wall of horses to negotiate. Hugging
the rail with two furlongs to run he was still last but desperate for racing room and still full of
running. Once the leader punched a hole through the rail he followed him and ran on really well for
a never closer sixth.

7th Custer Of The West
Didnt start as well as the three outside him and was hung out wide round turn one whilst trying to
find a midpack position somewhere near the rail. Still wide into the back he held mid pack and was
going well enough but hadnt improved going into the home turn and was still wide. Almost in the stands
down the home straight he whacked away but was never really in with a realistic chance.

8th End Game
Never really got into the race

9th Escobas Grandes
Always a fast starter he had the outside speed push as well and that saw him thrown into a speed
battle early on in an effort to find a position closer to the rail. He ended up one off after three
furlongs but was in a close stalk. Maintaining his stalk he was one off and still within a length
on the home turn but gradually fell away from there.

10th Pentagon
Got the perfect start and was hugging the rail at the first turn whilst the outside horses were
busting a lung to get in. As they entered the back straight he continued to keep the wider speed
horses off the rail and was sitting in a perfect position stalking the leader a length off. As they
entered the home turn he still held the perfect position and i was beginning to think he may just
hug the rail and pull away in the stretch. It all fell apart for him after that though as he fell away
and was well beaten in the end and was one of the few horses with no excuses for defeat.

11th Jolly Charley
Got a good position through the first turn, one off and just behind the leaders and held that into the
back stretch. He was still there going round the home turn but fell away pretty tamely down the stretch.

12th Aphrodite Of Milos
Got the outside speed push and was put into a speed battle to get to the rail round the first turn.
Although in front after three furlongs and into the back straight he was still wide and it wouldve
taken a very good horse to have expended that much energy and been there at the end. He was still in
it on the home turn but was still very wide and the exersion was beginning to show. With two to run he
started dropping back through the field and was very tired by the line.

13th Lightning Bolt
Stuck with a bad position through turn one the writing was soon on the wall. He stayed in the fight for a while
but was cooked into the stretch and ended up drifting right out to the stands as he puffed his was home.

SUMMARY

Typical of these types of races the best trip seemed to win the race. Take nothing away from the winner though
he had to make up plenty of ground and did so very well and with a similar run in the KYD could easily run to
glory. I liked a few in behind and if they make the KYD field with a better draw or a better run they could easily
tunr the tables. The only thing this race really told us is the winner of the KYD shouldnt be touted until we
see the gate assignments on the big day.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES